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fetusgooseandjuice · 2 years ago

Note

Okay can you do a fanfic where reader gets hurt in battle and goes into a coma for a couple months and shuri is by readers side for all of it while running wakanda as getting revenge on the person who did this to reader. Reader does eventually wake up even though the doctors don't think reader will wake up and it's just fluff from there.

If you do end up doing this fanfic, thank you! And you are one of my favorite writers! 🤍

You’ll Always Have Me

Pairings: Shuri Udaku x fem!reader

Summary: After getting hurt in battle, Y/N falls into a coma. Doctors aren’t sure when or if she’ll wake up, but Shuri refuses to lose hope. No matter how long it takes, she’ll never leave her side. Except to make sure that the person who caused this won’t get away with it.

Word Count: 4,244

Warnings: Murder | Violence

Second Person POV:

Prior to any type mission or battle, you and Shuri like to bask in each others presence right before you leave. You feel safe while you soak up every ounce of affection and time together that you can before you run head first into danger. So, that's what you were doing right now.

Sitting in the private space of your bedroom, Shuri sat crisscrossed on the bed while you sat on her lap with your legs wrapped around her. Your eyes were closed as you rested your foreheads against each others, trying to feel as close as possible in the others arms.

A few hours ago, you found out about a planned attack on the town when the enemies somehow left some clues and let information slip. You guys were working on evacuating the city, but there was still a little ways to go. So with all hands on deck, you were going to get to the city before the attack was set to happen, hoping to stop them and get everyone else out of harms way.

The loudest noise in the room changed from silence to Griots voice when he quietly gave you the five minute warning, as Shuri requested.

"You have a total of five minutes until your departure, your highness." he whispered, attempting to not disrupt the silence too much.

This was the time when you and Shuri had your "pep talk". You would tell each other how much you loved the other, and things to reassure you while sharing small, innocent kisses.

Shuri took a deep breath, inhaling your warm vanilla scent before lowly speaking up, "I love you so much, darling. When we get back home, we'll get comfy and watch a movie. Then probably fall asleep 10 minutes in, yeah?" she said with a soft chuckle, pecking your lips.

You hummed, nodding in agreement, "I love you too, Shuri." you responded and she kissed you again.

"You know I worry about you a lot, so you'll know I always have eyes on you. If you need help or think something's wrong, let me, Nakia, or Okoye know. You can even go to Aneka or Ayo. I'll have your back. You’ll always have me, my love." she told you, making sure this information was embedded into your brain.

"I know, Shuri. I'll tell you if something's wrong. But you can always tell me if you need help, you know that right?" you reassured her.

She nodded her head with a smile, "I know, angel. I will."

She kissed your lips again, but more fully this time instead of a little peck. She wanted you to feel all the love she had for you in case things went downhill. But both of you have always come back to each other in one piece, so this time wouldn't be any different, right?

When Griot informed you that the five minutes was up, you and Shuri shared one last kiss before getting up and exiting the bedroom. You stopped by her lab first to make sure that you had everything, and that you weren't forget anything you would need. When you were sure you were ready, you made your way outside and boarded the Talon Fighter.

Sitting down next to Nakia, Shuri stood standing so that she could run the plan through her mind one more time before giving everyone their roles and jobs. When the aircaft took off, Shuri started to speak.

"We're a little behind on the evacuation, so I want Nakia and Y/N to focus on getting people out, and onto the aircrafts. I'm going to have everyone else, the Dora Milaje, with me to make sure these guys aren't successful with whatever their idiotic plan was. We'll adjust and adapt the plan as needed. Questions, comments, concerns?" she spoke, looking between you and Nakia when she mentioned your names.

Everyone either shook their heads or mumbled a "no" to answer her question. With confirmation that the plan of action was understood, Shuri took a seat next to you. You leaned your head on her shoulder, and she turned hers to kiss your forehead, wrapping her arm around you to hold you for whatever time was left in the short flight.

When Griot alerted Shuri of your arrival, everyone exited the aircraft and began to take their designated places. When it was your turn to walk outside, your girlfriend stopped you.

"Promise me you'll be safe, and tell me if you need help." she said, gently grabbing your hand to turn you around and face her.

"I'll be okay, Shuri. I promise." you reassured her, moving your hand to caress her jawline with your thumb.

She sighed before giving you a small smile, "Okay, princess. I'll see you out there or when this is all over."

You nodded, leaning up to give her kiss, having to slightly stand up on your tippy toes in order to reach her lips. When you broke the kiss you hesitantly pulled away from her, not wanting to leave her arms but also wanting to go help people.

She watched you walk out and fade out of her line of vision, "Don't worry, your highness. I'll be with her the whole time." Nakia stated, next in line to leave.

"If you need anything at all, tell me and I’ll drop whatever I'm doing to get to you guys." Shuri demanded.

"You know I will." she said, jogging to catch up with you. Shuri waited for everyone else to exit before she enabled her mask and walked out, letting the doors of the aircraft close behind her.

~~~

Your POV:

"Okay ma'am, it'll just be a few minutes and you'll be out of here in no time." I kindly said, guiding an older woman to the line to get on one of the aircraft's that are transporting people.

We still had a little bit of time before they were planned to attack, and every second counted. I was in charge of evacuating the last two floors of the building near the river, while Nakia had the smaller houses.

I quickly made my way back to the floor I was working on, continuing to guide groups of people to whatever aircraft's were available. I cleared one floor and started jogging back to my last floor when I heard the commotion of the first shots being fired. I saw smoke rising into the air that followed sounds of explosions.

Seeing this motivated me to start moving quicker, practically sprinting up the stairs to evacuate my last group of people. I reached them and led them back down the stairs, reassuring them that everything will be fine, and also answering whatever questions they had to the best of my ability while trying to keep them calm.

I made sure that everyone got on safety before pressing the button to close the door. I told Griot not to let the aircraft take off until I did one last sweep of the building, starting at the bottom floor and working up.

When I got to the top floor and was certain that the building was empty, I began making my way outside when I heard a rumble, and the floor shook under my feet. I could see the ceiling start to crack, dust falling.

I knew I had to get out right at that moment, but I was stunned when the sound of an explosion rang through my ears, followed by the heat of the blast.

The power of the explosion was so strong and close to me that it pushed me back into the already cracked window that was behind me. When my back made contact with the glass, it broke, and I fell through. I didn't fall far though because I managed to grab onto a ledge on the building, hanging on and keeping myself from falling the two stories of the tall structure.

"Y/N!" I briefly heard Nakia yell from below me, but it was hard to focus on anything except hanging on, and the pain in my back from the glass.

"Y/N, hold on I'm coming!" I heard a different voice say. The words went in one ear and out the other as I tried to get a better grip and pull myself up, but I couldn't get leverage on anything.

My whole world stopped when another explosion shook the building, and this time it came collapsing down, and I plummeted into the water below me. I tried to swim up, but I was already in pain and pieces of the building fell into the water, hitting me and pushing me down further. It wasn't until one piece of rubble hit me in the head that I passed out, continuing to sink.

~~~

Shuri's POV:

"Aneka, watch your six!" I called out, warning her of an approaching enemy.

My focus went back to the three on one fight that I was in when something caught my eye. Although it was a little far away, I knew that Y/N was in that direction since I always had eyes on her and info on locations. I saw an explosion crumble a building, and my vision focused in on the figure barely hanging onto the side of it.

"Griot, what's happening over there?" I quickly asked the A.I through my kimoyo beads.

"It seems that the building you are looking at has been damaged by an explosion, and another explosion is predicted. The person you are looking is unfortunately Miss Y/L/N." he informed me, and my instantly heart dropped.

"Y/N." I whispered to myself, completely disregarding the people I was previously fighting, and making a b-line straight for Y/N.

"Shuri, we have a problem." I heard Nakia speak through my kimoyo beads.

"I know, I'm already on my way." I quickly responded.

I was only a few yards away from reaching the bottom of the building, "Y/N, hold on I'm coming!" I yelled, but it was too late when another explosion shook the building, and she went falling into the river below her.

That river is not something you want to get stuck in. It's currents are very rough for it only being a river, and watching the rubble fall into the water after her made a wave of anxiety wash over me.

So that's why as soon as I reached the edge of the water, I jumped in after her. It was hard to see, but I managed to catch a glimpse of her hand before she sank further down. I swam towards her, learning that she was unconscious when I saw that she wasn't moving. When I reached her, I held her limp body with one arm as I used the other to swim to the surface, gasping for air when I did.

"Nakia, help me!" I shouted while disabling my mask, desperate to get Y/N out of the water.

She quickly made her way over to the edge of the river, and I swam towards her, handing Y/N off to her so that she could pull her up while I pulled myself out of the water.

While I frantically tried to pull myself up, Nakia checked on Y/N. Putting her ear close to her mouth and nose to see if she was breathing, and then confirming her results by checking the pulse in her neck.

When she put two fingers on the side of her neck, I panicked, "W-what's wrong? Is she not breathing?"

When Nakia found no pulse, she immediately started CPR. At this point, Okoye had finally caught up to me. She had followed me when she saw me sprint off in the direction that Y/N was known to be in.

I watched Nakia rhythmically press on Y/N's chest, trying to get her to breath. I started crying, attempting to take over the CPR, but Okoye just held me back knowing that I would do a sloppy job of it considering my now hysterical state.

"Y/N!" I cried out. There was no way that the love of my life was about to leave me same way my mother did. I already lost her, my dad, and my brother.

Y/N was all I had left.

Okoye struggled to contain me as I fought her grip, practically sobbing for Y/N to come back to me. And my pleads had miraculously come true when Y/N began to cough up water, gasping for air. Nakia turned her onto her side to help her get the water out of her lungs, but she wasn't conscious for long because after she was done coughing, she passed out again. But, I could still see the rise and fall of her chest which was a good sign.

"We've got to get her back to the palace." Nakia said, picking up Y/N and starting to make her way to the Talon Fighter.

"Can I carry her?" I asked, wiping the tears off my face to try and show that I was capable of it now.

"It's okay, Shuri. Nakia's got her. Let's just get her back to the palace so that the doctors there can care for her, okay?" Okoye comforted me and I nodded my head, briskly following Nakia to the aircraft.

When we were boarded, she handed Y/N off to me, letting me hold her in my arms until we got back home. Her body was so limp, and cold. I got Griot to check her vitals, and they were stable for now. The ride home was short, but it felt like days. When we landed, I carried Y/N inside and to the lab, placing her on a stretcher and demanding that our top doctors care for her now, which they did.

I was hovering over them the whole time, and I got concerned when they stopped talking aloud and staring whispering to each other.

"What?" I worriedly questioned, but they didn't answer.

"I swear if one of you doesn't tell me what is going on with my girlfriend right now, I will ensure that the light coming from the ceiling is the last light that makes itself known to your vision." I spoke sternly, and they immediately turned to face me.

One of them spoke up with a sigh, "Although her vitals are stable, due to the lack of oxygen that her body received, and the blunt force trauma to her head, she has fallen into a coma. We are not sure when or if she'll wake up." they quietly whispered the last sentence.

I scoffed in disbelief, "No." was all I could say.

"No. You're joking, right? That is the love of my life laying there, and you mean to tell me that you don't think she'll wake up?" I said, speechless. All they could do was nod their heads.

"Get out." I muttered.

"Shuri-" Okoye started, but I cut her off.

"Get out!" I raised my voice, feeling frustrated and devastated.

They listened to me, knowing that I needed time to process what was just said to me. When the lab was empty, I walked over to Y/N and picked her up to move her to an actual bed instead of the stretcher. I laid her down and pulled a chair beside the bed, sitting down. Tears started streaming down my face again and I grabbed her limp hand in mine. I held onto it tightly, bringing it up to my lips to kiss her hand.

"Baby girl, you can leave me now." I whispered to her.

"The time I've gotten to spend with you isn't enough. It'll never be enough. We're supposed to spend our entire lives together, I was ready to marry you. You can't leave before I get to put a ring on your finger." I spoke to her through my tears.

When all I got was silence in return, I broke down, sobbing into the sheets on the bed.

~~~

34 Days Later

It's been a little over a month since I saw Y/N's bright eyes looking back at me, and I've gone to sit with her every single day.

I'd read her some of her favorite books, turn on a movie she likes, or just talk to her. During the time she's been in the coma, I went over the footage that the camera in my suit recorded the day of the incident. I managed to find the identity of the person who attacked the building she was in, and I've been tracking their every move since.

I have everything I need to make sure they get what they deserve, but Y/N has always been my top priority. So, I've focused on making sure she knows that I'm still with her, even though she's just asleep.

"I stand and hold out my hand. She gives me a skeptical look, but takes it and lets me pull her to her feet." I read from her favorite book.

I went to read the next line, but hesitated for some reason, turning my head to look at her. It felt so strange reading her favorite book to her without her little comments and kisses to interrupt me. This whole situation felt like my worst nightmare came true. We knew the attack was going to happen, and she still somehow ended up in this hospital bed.

I could've saved her if I had been just a little bit faster. But since I couldn't, I was going to make sure the person who hurt her never did anything with their life ever again.

I put the book on the bedside table for later, and leaned down to kiss her forehead, "I'll be back later, pretty girl." I whispered to her before standing up and walking out of the room.

"Griot, tell Okoye and Nakia to come to my lab right now." I told the A.I.

"Right away, your highness." he responded, and a couple minutes later, Okoye and Nakia appeared in my lab.

"You requested to see us?" Okoye questioned.

"Yes, I want you and Nakia to suit up. We're going after the person who collapsed that building and hurt Y/N.

~~~

As there aircraft landed outside of a remote building, I went over the plan one last time.

"We're looking for them," I showed a picture of who we came here to find.

"If you get to them before me, let me know and just keep them restrained until I get there. I want to deal with them myself." I said.

"Yes, your highness." Nakia responded while Okoye nodded her head. We exited the aircraft and swiftly made our way inside.

Going our separate ways, I could hear the commotion of Nakia and Okoye taking out whoever they saw. I did the same, not using all of my strength on them because I was saving that for the person responsible for Y/N's coma.

"Nakia, Okoye, my part of the building is clear. They're near one of you." I spoke using my kimoyo beads after checking the last room.

"I've got them. Griot, direct Shuri to me." Okoye responded, and I followed the A.I's directions.

When I entered the room, I saw the person we were looking for tied up with what seemed to be an extension cord, and Okoye holding them still.

"Thanks, Okoye. Can you wait outside for me, please?" I asked and she stepped out of the room.

I sighed, "Do you know who I am?" I questioned.

"Yeah, you're the new queen of Wakanda." they answered.

"And do you know why I was looking for you?" I asked, stalking around the room.

"Is this because of how we ambushed your country?Listen, it wasn't my idea. I was just doing what I was told to do." they quickly tried to explain themselves, but I wasn't having any of it.

"Partially. Not only did you and your people attack my country, but it was you specifically who exploded one of our buildings." I said.

"I-" they started, but I cut them off.

"Don't try to explain yourself. You are the very reason why someone so dear, and special to me is in a coma that no one knows if she'll come out of. You hurt the love of my life, and now you have to deal with me." I spoke sternly, and close to their face.

I turned my back to walk around the room again, but I sensed motion behind me and my instincts told me to duck, so I did, barely avoiding a swing to my head.

Turning around, I realized they had somehow managed to get out of the restraints. It made me angry how they thought they could hurt Y/N and get away with it.

But now I finally had the opportunity to avenge her, and I was going to do exactly that. Striking them whenever I got the chance, and dodging their attacks as well. I kicked them in the stomach which knocked the wind out of them and caused them to hit the ground.

I let my claws show, stalking towards them and gripping the collar of their shirt, digging the nails into their side.

"I really shouldn't kill you, but it wouldn't be fair if you got to live and my darling girl didn't. I would say it's nothing personal, but it is." were the last words I spoke to them before letting go of their shirt and digging my other set of claws into their neck until they stopped struggling.

I stepped back and thought about what to do with them now. I just decided to leave them there, thinking that they didn't deserve my effort to move them.

I walked out of the room, "I'm done now. Let's head home now, I want to get back to Y/N." I said and Okoye and Nakia followed me.

~~~

When we got back to the palace, I took a quick shower and changed before going to sit with Y/N. I decided to turn on her favorite movie this time and watch it until I fell asleep.

A few hours later, my eyes were focused on the tv until her hand twitched in mine. My head snapped over to look her, seeing her eyes still closed.

"Y/N?" I whispered, but got no sound or movement in return.

"Y/N, I felt your hand move. Can you do it again for me, sweet girl?" I pleaded, standing up.

I chuckled in shock when she moved her hand again, "Oh my god. I see you, darling. I know you're trying to wake up. Can you open your eyes for me?"

Her other hand moved and she made some small noises, "Come on, princess. Let me see those beautiful eyes of yours. Please?" I leaned down to stroke the back of my hand over her cheek.

A few seconds later, her eyes slightly opened, but quickly shut due to the lightning.

"Griot, dim the lights." I quickly demanded. When the light dimmed, she finally opened her eyes.

There were small tears running down my face, "There you are, my love. Hi," my words quivered from the overwhelming happiness I felt.

"Shuri?" was all she could mumble.

"Yes, darling. It's me, I've got you. You're okay." I reassured her, kissing her forehead.

Her eyes scanned the room before looking at me, "What happened to me?" she questioned and I looked down.

I sighed, "What's the last thing you remember?"

She thought for a moment before speaking, "I was making sure I evacuated all the floors. Did I get everyone out?" she asked.

I chuckled, admiring how she was worried about everyone but herself, "Yes, baby girl. You got everyone out."

She nodded her head, "So why am I here?"

"I guess when you went back up to double check, the building you were in was attacked. It exploded and collapsed, you fell into the river, unconscious. I got you out, and Nakia did CPR."

"How long have I been asleep for?" she questioned.

I thought for a moment, "34 days." I responded.

I could tell she didn't really know what to say or think about that, so I spoke up for her, "The doctors didn't think you'd wake up, but here you are. My strong princess." I said and she smiled.

"I know it's going to be a long recovery, but I'll never leave your side. You'll always have me." I comforted her.

"I'm tired." she muttered.

I lightly chucked, "I know, angel. Rest is crucial for recovery, so sleep all you want." I told her.

"Can you lay with me?" she quietly asked.

"Of course I can. You don't have to move though, I'll make use of the space there is." I climbed into bed with her and let her snuggle up to me however she wanted to.

I moved my hand under her shirt to rub her bare back, knowing that skin to skin contact comforts her.

"I love you." I whispered to her.

"I love you too, Shuri." she said before falling asleep.

Her head fell onto my shoulder, and I knew that my arm would eventually go numb, but I didn't care.

All I cared about was that my girl was okay, and now I'll have the chance to hopefully make her my wife like i've always wanted to.

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writingintheshadowsforever · 2 years ago

Text

Shuri x Reader Rest

You opened the front door to find Shuri standing there with her hand raised ready to knock. Your eyebrows furrowed in confusion at the sight. You were just about to make your way to the grassy field surrounded by the tall trees of the jungles. It was her and yours secret hideout that no one else knew about.

"Hey is something wrong?" You asked her looking over shoulder to see if she had any of the Dora Milaje with her.

She simply shook her head running a hand through her hair.

"Are we not-" Your question was cut short when her lips crashed into yours in a feverish kiss. Her hands found your waist as she backed you into the house. Shuri kicked the door shut with her foot but still managed to keep her lips attached to yours.

Your arms wrapped her neck in response pulling her closer as she swung your body around. So she could press you up against the wall, your mind was still swimming with questions. But you couldn't focus on them long enough as Shuri kissed you with a desperation. You hadn't felt from her in a long time. The last time she kissed like this was not too long after Queen Ramonda died.

"I need you to feel something real and alive right now please sthandwa" Shuri pleaded. When you tried to pull away insisting that now wasn't the time for such a thing.

You gave in.

The worry inside of you grew more and more by the second as your lungs started to beg for air. Just when you thought you were going to have to push her away. Shuri finally broke the kiss pressing her forehead to yours with her eyes closed. "I'm sorry I just really needed that it's been a long day" she whispered. Her voice a bit winded from the kiss.

"Its okay" You reassured.

The two of you stayed like that rooted in that spot for a few more minutes. But eventually you brought up your original question again. "Are we not going too the fields today?"

Shuri shook her head. "No I don't feel like making the hike I just want to stay here with you. We can lie in your bed and cuddle for a bit yeah?"

You were caught off guard with the sudden change in plans. While it wasn't unusual for Shuri to switch up on locations every now and then. Especially when she discovered a new spot with a breathtaking view. Wakanda was filled with so many hidden gems the two of you would never run out of secret meetup locations. But never had she suggested that you and her just stay here in your home. That you shared with your older sister Okoye.

Who had no idea that the two of you were dating, and had started seeing each other about six months ago. The only person who knew of your relationship with Shuri was her mother, and it was because neither of you had the heart to lie to her. Of course Queen Ramonda took notice of the drastic change in her daughter's mood and habits. Whenever she went down to the lab to pull Shuri away from her work. The Princess would already be gone, and was nowhere to be found in the palace.

Shuri would try too sneak back in during the early morning hours, but her mother was an early riser. The Queen let her daughter believe that her secret escapades went unnoticed. Until finally her curiosity got the better of her and she asked Shuri at breakfast who exactly had managed to put a smile back on her face.

Queen Ramonda was happy the two of you were able to love each other, and find happiness after the tragic passing of T'Challa. She was worried that Shuri wouldn't be capable of being happy again after his death. She became a shell of a person, and barely left her lab. Until you came along and challenged her to get out and enjoy the beauty that the world still had to offer.

"What about Okoye? You asked with a raised eyebrow. Your older sister was no longer a Dora, but instead had been given a new position. One that took some convincing for her to commit too, but was just as important. She was the leader of the Midnight Angels, and the job came with one huge perk. Okoye was no longer kept at the palace all day and night. She actually got done with her military duties at a decent time on most days, and would return home during evening hours.

"We got a couple of hours I gave her a few more tasks than normal today. She'll be busy till nightfall" Shuri told you.

"Hey is everything okay?" You didn't mean to ask so many questions, but her behavior had you a little more than worried, and now that you really had a chance to look at her. You could see just how tired and defeated she looked. There bags under her eyes letting you know that she wasn't getting that much rest. And honestly while it didn't surprise you considering all of the added on responsibility she had to deal with. Since becoming the Black Panther, trying to truly grieve her mother's death, and help rebuild Wakanda's army. When M'Baku offered to take the throne in her place until Shuri was ready was truly a blessing in disguise. You didn't think she could handle the pressure right now, but of course you weren't going to tell her that outright.

"I'm just tired that's all and I don't want to sleep in the palace. Someone always seems to need something, and even though M'Baku is king. The Council stills finds a reason to bother me on a daily basis. I just need you right now okay please" Shuri said. Her voice got lower and lower as she talked till it was nothing but a whisper. The softness coupled with the pleading tone made her even more vulnerable.

It broke your heart to see your love in such a state so without another word. You took Shuri by the hand and led her down the hallway to your decent size bedroom. The Princess had only been in your room a few times, but it still looked the same. The walls were painted in a warm brown color with a few art pieces hung up. The king size bed was positioned in the center of the room with the window right above it. The reddish brown curtains with swirling patterns on it keep the sunlight out.

Shuri wasted no time in getting more comfortable. Taking her t-shirt and black joggers off leaving her in a sports bra, and workout shorts. Under normal circumstances you would've taken the opportunity to truly appreciated her lean and fit form. The muscles in her arm and her abs were more defined than ever thanks to her constant training with Okoye, and Ayo.

But at this very moment her rest was your only concern. You followed suit changing into pajama pants, and a tank top. The perfect outfit for a long cuddle session which was probably going to turn into a nap. Shuri sat on the bed patiently waiting for you to join her laying on your back. Allowing her to snuggled up to your body and rest her head on your chest. You brought one arm down to wrap it around her body in lazy grip, while your other arm stayed behind your head. You leaned to press a quick kiss to her forehead as Shuri let out a soft hum.

Time drifted by as the two of you just laid there holding each other. You managed to stay conscious longer than Shuri did. She wasn't lying when she said she was tired. It only took about five minutes before her soft snores started to fill the air. You glanced down to see her face relax and worry free as she slept. Shuri never looked so peaceful as she did right now, and you decided that from here on out. This would become a weekly thing no matter the risk of Okoye finding out.

But what you and her failed to realize was neither of you had remembered to set an alarm. Before the cuddle session started you didn't remember falling asleep, but not too long after Shuri went under. You followed her lulled by the sound of her soft snores filled with the breeze of cold air coming from the vents. Hours later when nightfall finally arrived both of were so gone. The sound of the front door opening and slamming shut didn't make either of you stir even a little bit.

Okoye called out your name as she always did when she got home to make sure you were home and safe. Usually if you were going to be out this late, or was planning to crash elsewhere. You made sure to leave a note on the small table set by the door. There was no note so she knew you were home.

A small bit of worry struck her when you didn't reply to her right away. It was a bit early for you to be asleep already you tended to night owl. Okoye made her way to to your bedroom keeping her pace steady but quiet. Your bedroom door was ajar, so she pushed it all the way open. The sight that welcomed her had her entire body freezing up in shock as she let out a little gasp herself. But the shock left just as quickly as it arrived. Her eyes softened as Okoye shook her head with a light chuckle. She knew you had been dating someone, but she never would've guessed it was Shuri.

The Princess let out a little mumble as one of her hands started patting the spacious bed. Okoye assumed she was unconsciously searching for a duvet considering how chilly it was in your room. She tiptoed into your room and retrieved the giant cover from the bottom of the bed, and pulled it up and over both of yours and Shuri's bodies. Shuri hummed in satisfaction and nuzzled her head into the crook of your neck.

Okoye planted a small kiss on your forehead which seemed to do the trick. Your eyes fluttered open at the feel of her lips, and you caught a brief glimpse of her face. But you were so out of it all you could do was mumbled her name.

"Shhhh sleep usisi omncinci we can talk in the morning" Okoye whispered caressing your cheek.

You mumbled something unintelligible before going back under a deep sleep.

With a soft smile on her face Okoye exited your room closing the door behind her.

#mcu imagine #marvel imagine #black panther imagine #shuri x reader #shuri fluff #shuri imagine #okoye x reader #okoye imagine

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aokoaoi · 2 years ago

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𝐬𝐡𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐬 𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐥𝐞 𝐜𝐫𝐮𝐬𝐡 𝐨𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮. ʰᵉᵃᵈᶜᵃⁿᵒⁿˢ

pairings : shuri x fem!reader.

synopsis : shuri has a little crush on you, another lab worker.

genre : fluff.

# someone managing to capture the princess' interest was something she least expected something to happen. but how can she help it if the interest was non-other than a lab worker, (name) (lastname).

# it was definitely strange figuring out if she liked you, or if it was just admiration. eventually, it was infact a small crush.

# she can't help but let her gaze lingers on you from time to time when you're working in the lab. she absolutely loves the dedication and focus you put on your work, it's what always caught her attention when it comes to you.

# you have done countless of important tasks around the lab. so many to the point shuri trusts you to do the most impossible ones.

# you are one brilliant girl as well, but you wouldn't say your knowledge rivaled the princess'. let's just say you were smarter than half the lab workers, or practically even all of the lab workers!

# you both rarely talk though, which is why shuri just admires you from afar. she doesn't know why she's so afraid of approaching you. you've literally been working for her for years, damn it.

# one interesting thing about this, is that you know alot about the wakandan princess, but the princess knows nothing about you.

# when her brother t'challa was still present, he'd often tease his sister to just come up to you and form a conversation. which she didn't.

# all she could do was wave and say hello! maybe when she's lucky, she can say bye to you when you're leaving.

# approaching you wasn't even a challenge, but she was definitely making it one. you just seem like the type to be hard to approach. what if she does end up going near you? what will she say then? 'yo what's up?' 'you look good?' 'nice work?'

# yeah she's definitely not gonna take that chance just to embarrass herself.

# often times, she sees nakia coming up to you to strike a conversation. it made shuri internally sulk to herself to see someone else talk to you so freely. she probably even believes you and nakia are 'besties'.

# when you see her staring at you, you form the most beautiful and sweetest smile she's ever seen. augh, your smile bro, it can make someone's day.

# despite not knowing much about you, shuri can definitely tell you're a very sweet and caring person. she justs can't help but melt when she sees you take over someone's work to help them when they're struggling.

# she thinks you're perfect girlfriend material too.

# she assumes alot about you and your personality based on what she sees you do. as of right now, she thinks you're caring, but you easily run out of patience when you're being provoked. yes, she's made a mental note not to get on your nerves because you're absolutely ruthless when upset.

# shuri has had enough feeling left out though. okoye, nakia, and other people had already had formed some sort of bond with you already, but she hasn't. she can't help but feel jealous when she hears nakia talk about you.

# sooner or later, she will eventually have the courage to talk to you.

"how can an edit be hot?" — "its hot when letitia wright is in it."

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b4rbi3l4nd · 2 years ago

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SOS — keep it on lowski

Okay real talk, this is my first tumblr fic and I like it..so far, so i might make this a series LMAO. But catch me on wattpad, i have a series on there that I plan on continuing

𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐃𝐄𝐀𝐋

summary: you broke up with shuri a few years ago and left wakanda for good until namor. now that he's killed the queen and multiple wakandan civilians, he's seen as a great threat and as former second in command at shuri's lab and wakanda's loyal warrior it is your duty to return and fight for your country. but a certain somebody makes the mission way too hard to deal with.

genre: minor angst, slow, slow, slow burn

pairing: shuri x black fem reader

episode warnings: suggestive scenes

proofread?: no but if there are errors then it's grammarly's fault.

word count: girl idfk

inspirations: 'SOS' — SZA

song: 'Low' — SZA

send your thoughts and requests

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"Whatever you want, don't call me." you said as you threw your kimoyo beads and your engagement ring on the ground before stomping it and breaking it under your heels.

Blinking back tears, you pushed her off you as you turned around and left the lab, slamming the door behind you. Her cries echoed through the room as you picked up your suitcase as you left the palace and wakanda for good.

That was more than 4 years ago. To think you were happy. Marrying into the royal family, a strong bond with both T'Challa and Queen Ramonda but especially the love of your life, Shuri.

You guys have known each other for the longest time, being the daughter of the chief of the Border Tribe, you and Shuri have known each other since birth. Bonding over your love for tech. Not only did you have one of the highest IQ's, you were also one of the strongest warriors Wakanda had. Your mother is a Dora Milage so you trained everyday with them since you could crawl.

Everything was going great for the both of you until Shuri started getting engulfed in her tech work. She worked overtime to prove to the elders that she could also be useful but it angered you. Not because she was expanding her work but because she wasn't making time for you. She dismissed you, she didn't even let you enter the lab sometimes and that was where you worked. Eventually, you got sick of it, sick of everything and just left. For the better. Or was it?

"Miss Y/N, you have arrived." your driver says as you snap out of your thoughts. The car door opens for you as you steop out in white pumps and a black bodycon dress, your curls resting all around you as you straightened your gold chain.

The Dora Milage immediately bowed to you as you noticed your mother smiling at you but your face remained expressionless. You walked into the palace as you muttered under your breath. "i can't believe I'm back here again."

You walked through the palace corridors as you stopped in front of the lab, 2 Dora Milage warriors on either side of the door. You were contemplating entering when you heard 2 women's voices.

Turning around, you were met with Okoye and Nakia looking at you.

Nakia immediately embraced you as you hugged her back, realizing how much you missed your friends.

"Y/N...it pained us so much when you were not there for T'Challa's funeral." Nakia started as Okoye stood still and silent, not looking over to you.

"I was busy...I'm sorry. Send the queen my condolences-" you start but Okoye cut you off sharply.

"The queen is dead." She said, almost as if she was choking on her words as Nakia looked down.

A hand flew to your mouth as you felt your eyes watering. Queen Ramonda was like your mother figure, so caring and loving.

"That is why we asked you here. I'm guessing you didn't read the envelope?" Nakia asked as you tilted your head to the side.

"There was an envelope?"

"Typical." Okoye kissed her teeth as you turned to her to see her smiling.

"Okoye..."

"You know I can't be mad at you for long. Small small girl, come here." She held out your arms as you chuckled, hugging her tightly but when you pulled back, both Okoye and Nakia had serious expressions on their face.

"We need your help Y/N...help the country. Help Shuri." Nakia voiced out as your mood soured when she mentioned your ex's name but she gave you a look. "Please, put your petty beef to the side. She hasn't been herself lately, she's been engulfing herself in her work, you're the only one we know that can help her."

"Is this what you called me for?"

"Not all, we also need help defeating a treacherous villain. Namor. All the information has already been sent to your...iPhone." Okoye said the last part in disgust as you rolled your eyes playfully.

"Sorry ma'am, but it's how you keep up with stuff out of country nowadays."

"I still don't know why you didn't take your kimoyo beads with you. They're great advances."

"Yea but she built em didn't she."

"And it was your design."

"Look, let's not get into battle of the tech here alright?" Nakia said, as she looked between you and Okoye. "Just please help Shuri."

"And the country." Okoye added as you laughed slightly.

You took a sigh and nodded, dismissing them with your hands as you 'promised' to help Shuri. Bullshit, you couldn't give 2 shits about that woman. Your face turned expressionless once more as you entered the lab, startled when a voice started talking out of nowhere.

"My queen, an unknown woman has entered the lab."

"Thank you Griot." Shuri said sarcastically as she didn't even look up from her work.

Your fists balled up slightly. Wow, nothing changed even from when you guys were together. You sighed, maybe you should give her benefit of the doubt, her whole family is gone.

You squinted your eyes, looking around, not knowing where she was.

"What do you want?" her voice came from above and behind you.

You looked up before turning around to see her standing atop some stairs. Your breath hitches, she looks so different than before. She ditched the braids now, her hair shorter than usual. Fades at the sides with curls on the top. It fit her. You took in her white tracksuit and sneakers, tatted hands, and her body got a bit more muscular than last time. She had a ring on her fourth finger. Was she married? The ring looked nothing like your engagement ring and you felt a slight pang in your chest but you shook it off.

You look up to her face but she wasn't even looking at you, she was studying something on her kimoyo beads. Every bit of arousal just disappeared. What an ick, she's still more focused on her work than anything else.

"I was sent to help with defeating Namor."

"Riri?"

"Y/N."

As soon as you said your name, her head darted up as she looked in your direction. You stood still, your hands in front of you as you looked straight ahead, unbothered, which you were.

"Oh uhm.."

"Is Riri your wife?" You ask, motioning towards her ring on her fourth finger.

"Why do you care?" She raised an eyebrow, a stern expression fixated on her face as a frown appeared.

"I don't.." you trailed off as you took note of her face, images of her crying and begging on the lab floor the day you left rushing your mind as you abruptly stopped and shook your head.

"You can go to your quarters, you are not needed here today."

"No thanks, I'll stay. I am here to protect my country, no other intentions needed." You walk up the stairs and right past her as you walk over to your former office and stop, staring in disbelief.

It was decorated with red and yellow and the name "Riri" was spelled out on the wall with an ironman-looking suit standing in the corner of it.

"Of course." You nod your head slightly, of course your office wasn't going to stay the same. She's obviously moved on. You start towards a chair but stop as you hear her right behind you. She grabbed your arm slightly, making you turn around to face her. She still towered over you, even after all this time.

"I got it under control."

"Really? Because if so, Nakia and Okoye wouldn't be begging for me to help you."

Before she can respond, a young woman around our age comes into the lab and looks up at Shuri.

"My love." she said as she ran up to hug her and Shuri hugged her back lovingly, letting go of my arm.

I frowned at the sight and looked away. I shouldn't even be feeling like this, I broke up with her, I'm the asshole.

"Namor...he left a message."

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All 3 of us walked towards the throne room, Shuri in the middle and ahead of us, her hands locked in with the woman who I learned to be named Malia. She wasn't Wakandan but American, you can tell from her accent. I scoffed at this.

The whole time, I stole glances at her. She wasn't even that pretty. Her dress is too short, this is a work area. Is she trying to seduce the elders or what? What's up with those shoes? They're unprofessional. Straightened hair? Really? Americans have no value for their natural hair. "Stop it" i said to myself under my breath. why am i comparing myself to another woman? I don't even care for Shuri, she can suck my clit for all i care.

As we approached the throne room, Shuri took her seat on the throne and I watched Malia sit down in the seat next to her. My former seat. I stood next to the Dora Milage, specifically my mother as I watched the two with hooded eyes.

Okoye pulled out her kimoyo beads where it showed Namor at the border of Wakanda, promising to be back and rid the whole country.

The whole time I was more focused on Malia and Shuri. The way Shuri's hand moved up and down her thigh, the way she looked at her. How unprofessional. And in front of the guards too?

"What is she doing here?" An elder spoke out, causing me to snap out of my trance. Everyone was now looking at me and I put on my best poker face, looking up at them.

"She is still a Wakandan, whether you like it or not." My mother said, standing up for me as I eyed the elder down. I clicked my tongue slightly as he turned away.

After the brief meeting and discussion of what to do, I made my way out of the throne room, right behind Malia who offered to show me to my sleeping quarters.

As we entered my apartment in the palace, I turned to her and raised an eyebrow. "Are you and Shuri married? I need to know whether to address to you as my queen or not." I say, trying to hide the fact that I'm prying for information.

I can see the question catch her off guard as she smiles sweetly at me. "No, not yet. This is just a promise ring, she got it for our anniversary, a few weeks ago, pretty right? She made it specifically for us." She showed her hand as I looked at the ring. It was beautiful and it had the initials "S.M" carved into it.

"Crazy how..if you hadn't left, this would've been you." She said under her breath, her tone sounding less friendly than it was before.

I look up at her, her expression looking more stern as we held eye contact momentarily. It was ice cold and the tension in the room could cut blocks. But then she smiled, her sweet expression coming back to her face.

"That's all, I hope you have a nice stay in Wakanda." She smiled even wider before turning around and leaving the apartment, leaving me to feel unsafe that she knew where I slept.

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That night as I pulled my dress down, I heard a knock on my door. I didn't open it, still occupied with my dress. After a few moments, the door opened.

"I thought I locked that door.."

I turned around to be met face to face with Shuri. My dress fell down, and pooled at my legs. The only thing stopping her from seeing my naked body was a white savage x fenty lingerie set which was even more teasing if I'm being honest.

She was silent for a few moments, looking at me up and down before she gulped and then looked back at my face.

"I didn't know you were in here."

She went silent for a few moments before I looked at her puzzled.

"Not even a sorry?"

"For?"

"Practically barging in my room and then staring me down."

"You're in your head."

"Really? We're gonna pretend the Queen of Wakanda isn't in my bedroom, talking to me as I'm half naked."

"It's nothing I haven't seen before." she blurted out as I stand still, stunned at her words and she too also seems stunned at what she just said.

"I.." she starts but I shake my head, turning around.

"I need you to get the fuck out my space." I say and she doesn't respond until I hear the door opening again.

"I'll need to see you again in the morning and discuss some things about the whole Namor situation. Meet me in my lab at 10 AM sharp, don't be late." She says sternly before I hear the door slam shut.

"Shit, 4 years of sexual frustration does something to you." I say, sighing deeply as I pick up my dress, throwing it on my bed before going to my suitcase to grab my pajamas.

I'm going to hate it here, for sure.

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uzumaki-rebellion · 6 months ago

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"King Killmonger: The Golden Jaguar Chapter 9"

Need to catch up? Masterlist HERE.

youtube

"You're beautiful, you're wonderful! Incredible, I love you so You're beautiful! Each moment spent with you is simply wonderful This love I have for you, girl, it's incredible And I don't know what I'd do If I can't be with you The world could not go on so every night I pray If the Lord should come for me before I wake I wouldn't want to go if I can't see your face Can't hold you close What good would Heaven be? If the angels came for me I'd tell them no"

Michael Jackson – "Heaven Can Wait"

The king and queen rose early at approximately seven in the morning to shower and eat a quick breakfast of porridge, scrambled eggs and fried crocodile sausage. They chose to wear periwinkle blue linen pants and tight long-sleeved shirts to protect them from the sun that was supposed to warm the entire day without rain for once. Stylish and functional, their fits looked good enough for a royal cocktail party. Yani carefully placed her queen's isicholo on her head. Her crown was meant for all public appearances, no matter the occasion.

Okoye was adamant that they were escorted to the market on the water and also when they walked on land again. That meant four Dora Milaje canoes flanked Yani's and N'Jadaka's river paddling. The Royal Talon Fighter would be on stand-by in the air on remote if the royal couple had to be swept away from overzealous crowds.

N'Jadaka had hoped he and Yani could blend in discreetly with the people, but his aura was hard to hide behind shades and covered locs. It was better to just be open about their appearances. He walked like royalty and his presence alone jarred people in person, especially up close.

They were both excited to start their trip downriver right away. Ayo had arranged for them to have lunch at a secured location inland and stinger aircraft flown by his hand-picked Onyx Squad would track them on the water hidden behind their spectral camouflage.

He helped Yani climb into their canoe and he settled in behind her. They worked in tandem rowing with the oars for ten miles and he eventually told Yani to stop rowing so she could rest her arms and take in the views before they arrived to their destination. He paddled at a leisurely pace. Yani stuck her hand in the cool emerald water and glanced back at him occasionally with a huge smile on her face. He looked all around pleased that the weather was perfect. Directly in front of their canoe at fifty feet was Okoye. Behind them was Ayo, and on their sides were Quamba and Aneka. He knew they were having fun with them by the slips of grins that he caught on their faces whenever Yani squealed about the beauty of the landscape on the wide river, snapping more holo-pics with her kimoyo beads.

To their right lurking just above the surface were a pair of crocodiles that ignored them as they floated by. Everything around them was wide open, green and lush. Yani waved her hands with thrilled abandon.

"I see it! I see it!" she said.

N'Jadaka could already smell the odors of cooked food, fresh fish, sweet foods, and smoking grills. Music peppered the air in the distance and there were already river boat vendors shouting about their wares for sell all across the wide body of water. Quaint floating shops shaped the throughway for all the customer boats floating about. Larger craft shops and riverside cafes closer to shore were propped up on stilts. Entire families rowed long boats to shop for seafood, crocodile meat, chicken, goat, or beef, rice, vegetables and fruits plucked from the rainforest. Entire platters of cooked combination meals were already being served hot and it was only a quarter past nine. Sparkly trinkets, hand-crafted rugs, colorful rainbows of fabric and jewelry were sold too. It reminded N'Jadaka of a Moroccan-styled Open Air Bazaar except it all took place on the river itself.

River security riding on sleek Wakandan-styled personal watercraft jetted over to Okoye and she gave them instructions on how they would proceed through the floating market. Five more security watercrafts took their direction from their boss and N'Jadaka paddled them forward.

Word spread fast.

Vendors and customers gaped openly at the king and queen. No one there was told of their arrival. Only the river security team was notified and there were emergency contingency plans on their route there. Luckily, the people were respectful. Many tried to pretend it wasn't a big deal to have royalty floating near them shopping for goods like regular citizens.

The colors and aroma of the market dazzled the eye and nose. The sounds of laughter and shouts to buy goods kept Yani enthralled. He noticed a large Ferris wheel on a pier that reached across the water filled with all kinds of amusements. Tall metal poles held an aerial tram ride that carried six people at a time over the treetops. There was also a zipline that shot couples down an exciting adventure below the grand heights of the outer emergent layer of broad-leaf forest trees that had lived for almost one thousand years.

An elderly vendor in one of the floating shops waved his thin dark carob-brown arm to get Yani's attention so she could taste a sample of his fresh chocolate candies. Yani gobbled down what looked like a piece of fudge with coconut and peanuts in it. She leaned back and handed a sample to him. He ate it and the chocolate had a kick to it as it melted on his tongue. The peanuts were roasted in cayenne pepper infused honey and the fresh grated coconut was soft.

Yani purchased a pound of it using her kimoyo beads, tapping it against the small yellow screen floating above the vendor's beads. She tucked the candy inside the water-proof bags she brought to collect souvenirs. Easing in among the other customers they enjoyed strong thick coffee with a springy layered flatbread smothered in cherry butter. They licked fingers, sipped, and spoke choppy D'Ja, a River Tribe dialect, to the proprietor floating next to their canoe with the help of their translator buds. The River Tribe territory was inside Birnin D'Jata and because the Panther Tribe and River Tribe ancestral territory overlapped, D'Ja was often used as a universal tongue since they shared a similar linguistic root.

N'Jadaka paddled further into the throng of small boats, some shaped like micro-sized catamarans carved from wood that could hold up to four people and their goods in the center. Yani inspected bananas, mangoes, passion fruit, papayas, loquats, and various tree nuts before buying two pounds of fried plantain chips from a young woman who couldn't stop fawning over meeting the queen in person. He watched his wife nibble fried fish nuggets and barter over sweetbread stuffed with sweet vanilla cream.

"Yani, you'll be too full to eat lunch at the restaurant later," he said.

She crammed half of the sweetbread in her mouth and flushed it down with chocolate goat's milk.

"I'll make room," she said stuffing the other half of bread into her mouth.

The two older women who sold Yani the sweetbread grinned at the king. One of them clucked her tongue at him in a friendly way.

"Kumkani, it has been a long time since we have had a good round queen. It is propper to fatten up your wife. It makes her even more beautiful than she already is. Here we call Queen Yani our special daughter because she looks like us with lighter skin. Do not deny her the pleasure of food. A fat woman is a gorgeous woman who is loved," she said.

N'Jadaka burst out laughing at the openness.

"Fatten her up, huh?" he said.

The woman nodded emphatically and stuffed another bag of sweetbread into Yani's hand.

"I promise you kumkani, make her a bigger woman and you will never have any problems in your life."

He sampled the bread and stayed away from any more sweets. However, he did put another small round sweetbread in Yani's hand. Good elderly women never steered him wrong and he always enjoyed big women. Another thirty pounds on Yani might be the move, he thought.

"There's so much to see here…almost too much. I can't believe this goes on every day," Yani said.

Their security made sure they had plenty of room to maneuver and that made it easier for him to control the canoe and keep it from bumping into boats crammed close to theirs and the Doras. Vendor after vendor slid their boats against each other trying to sway customers their way. From an outsider's perspective it looked chaotic to N'Jadaka, but there was a natural rhythm to the dense population sharing water space. A pretty woman in a faded green dress and short close-cropped hair floated next to their boat under Okoye's watchful eye so that Yani could check out her supply of fresh flowers picked from the forest floor earlier that morning. N'Jadaka paid for several bouquets delighting the vendor. He allowed her to take a picture of him and Yani. Aneka snapped the holo-pic with her kimoyo and transferred the image to the woman so she could be in the photo too. Once Yani had her fill of shopping on the water and filling their canoe and all of their Dora Milaje's canoes too, they went to the pier, tied their canoe, and had one of the River security men guard their things from prying eyes.

Helping his wife out of the canoe, they were met with people holding up their kimoyo's to record their travel onto the land. Some observers seemed to just want a chance to catch a whiff of Yani's walking by air, because her perfume attracted oglers like bees waltzing to a honeycomb. Okoye and Quamba shooed folks away, but didn't deny them holo-vids under Yani's command. No citizen had become unruly and she didn't feel the need to stop them from capturing her image. Okoye warned them to stay at a respectful distance from the couple. Yani pulled a light blue shawl over her shoulders and they walked hand-in-hand up the steps that led to a busy amusement area. People played all manner of games like shooting long water guns at fish and crocodile images, and fished directly from the pier. Some ate ice cream and other treats as they watched visitors chatter and scream on spinning rides or amuse themselves being entertained by magicians and a puppet show for children. There was a line of thrill- seekers waiting to ride the zip line. A group of young musicians played instruments and sang songs for tips. The large Ferris wheel took up the far end of the pier. Scattered throughout were picnic tables where people could eat their bought food or just relax and enjoy the weather and a view of the wide river below.

They made it a point to visit each entertainment stall and snack station to say hello to the people they ruled over. Yani greeted children who shyly waved at her and giggled when she asked for their names and spoke to their parents. N'Jadaka shook hands and did his part to be cordial like his wife.

The zip line attendant allowed them to cut in the front of the line much to the insistence of the thirty people already waiting before them. Okoye and Ayo rode it first to place themselves at the final destination point before he and Yani went down. He walked up the stairs that took them to the top of the platform where a young man eagerly strapped them into the double seats. Yani held the thin strap in front of them and yelped when they were pushed down. They were so high up. Their legs dangled above the emergent layer and then there was a gentle downward swoosh as the zipline carried them through the opening in the canopy. Yani laughed and yelled her loudest to hear her voice travel across the scenery. Both their stomachs dropped. He laughed too and enjoyed the view flying past them while keeping his hand on Yani's isicholo to keep it from flying off. At the very bottom of the forest floor, Okoye and Ayo stood watching them disembark. Waiting for Aneka and Quamba to reach them, they decided to ride the aerial tram to see other parts of the forest that would also return them back up to the top where the market was, saving them a tiresome hike up the stairs or using the long escalator that ferried people back to the starting point. They rode in their own tram with the Doras in front and behind them in separate transports.

"The air is so clean and so different from Zana. Smell it?" Yani asked.

He nodded.

Far below a herd of domesticated water buffalo crossed a section of the Ibukun and Yani sighed.

"We are so blessed," she said in awe.

He stroked her cheek and kissed her.

"Happy?" he asked.

"Very."

Yani rubbed his arm.

"Let's go and find the restaurant. You're running low on batteries and wearing your hungry face," she said.

N'Jadaka clasped her hand and on their return to the market pier, Okoye guided them through a tumultuous boardwalk filled with shoppers and other citizens simply going about their regular day. They were gawked at and plenty of people stopped in their tracks to watch them pass. Yani's isicholo gave her a regal bearing that was gentler to take in as opposed to his larger-than-life figure. A few children ran up and handed Yani flowers and handmade bracelets. She accepted the flowers and sniffed their fragrance. N'Jadaka helped her put on the bracelets after Okoye scanned them for anything strange. The king didn't sense any oddities, but appreciated Okoye's thorough nature.

Ayo hustled them away to give them room for sightseeing the land-based shops and various cafes filled to the brim with men and women enjoying brunch on sidewalk seating. Most people stood up immediately the moment they realized who they were seeing, and others froze, too stunned to do anything but stare.

"This is the establishment, kumkani and ukumkanikazi. The proprietor's name is Lungile Chilza. His family has run this business for over fifty years. His wife, Nomble Chilza is the head chef," Okoye said.

Lungile and Nomble stood waiting for them at the front entrance. Nomble wore a pale green chef's hat and matching chef's apron. Her dark skin was without blemish for her age and her smile held white teeth with small gaps in them that made her look even more youthful. Lungile was a robust man with hair whiter than soft cotton that floated like a cloud three inches off his scalp. His ebony skin was shiny and smooth like his wife's.

Yani stepped forward first and greeted them both. She shook their hands and the older couple gushed over her before N'Jadaka was brought forward. He elicited nervous energy in them both. Giving a heartfelt smile that relaxed them, N'Jadaka held out his hand to Lungile and the man shook it firmly.

"King N'Jadaka…Queen Yani, my wife has prepared a wonderful meal for you. Come inside, please, make yourself comfortable. We have you seated at our best table."

Lungile held out his hand inviting them in. Okoye and Ayo stepped in first to inspect the place and gestured for them to enter. Yani sauntered in first and they immediately noticed the exquisite artwork on the walls. Landscape paintings of the Ibukun River and portraits of Birnin D'Jata life at night.

"Here…sit here, please," Nomble said.

N'Jadaka reached to pull out the chair for Yani, but Lungile beat him too it, his pudgy yet spritely frame eager to please. Yani sat down and Nomble admired the isicholo on her head.

"Your crown is so lovely Queen Yani. I enjoyed watching your nuptials to the king. It was all that everyone talked about."

"Thank you, Nkosikazi Chilza," Yani said.

"Please, call me Nomble, daughter. You are family here," Nomble said.

The other patrons in the restaurant peeked at them, but then went about eating their own meals when his eyes cast out to take in more of the restaurant décor. Lungile poured them refreshing cool glasses of chilled passion fruit juice along with glasses of water.

"Would you like anything stronger, kumkani? We have a wide array of wines and other beverages."

"This is fine for me. Yani would you like anything else?"

"I'd like a glass of your best wine from this region," Yani said.

Lungile clapped his hands thrilled that she wanted to try something else from their place.

"My wife has cooked you both a delicate smoked pork brisket smothered in a mango glaze with some savory greens and our famous spicy plantains. I will bring you a glass of D'Jata's most popular white wine that will tickle your tastebuds, my queen."

"Spicy plantains? My father Prince N'Jobu cooked those all the time for me and my mother," N'Jadaka said.

Lungile patted his chest with pride.

"Your father used to come to our restaurant when he spent time here as a teenager. My wife taught him our special recipe to make them."

"Then I have her to thank for making my belly happy when I was a child."

Lungile beamed and his wife returned to their table carrying two platters of finger foods to start their meal.

"The king loves your plantains. Prince N'Jobu cooked it for him and is mother," Lungile gushed.

Nomble cheesed hard, her cheeks rising up higher than the sun outside.

"I think in another life your father would've been a wonderful chef. He was a quick learner and loved food. He would fly here all the time with your grandparents and…."

Nomble stopped talking.

"Finish what you were about to say," N'Jadaka said.

"I do not want to upset you kumkani."

"You won't."

"I was going to say your uncle's name. My apologies for making that mistake."

"No need to apologize. My family held this place in high regard. It's why I brought my wife here. To enjoy what my father loved."

Nomble nodded quickly and her eyes watered, fearful of upsetting the king despite what he said. He reached out and held her hand.

"No reason to get upset Mama Nomble. I take no offense and look forward to chowing down on the best pork brisket in Birnin D'Jata," he said.

Nomble trembled with his hand covering hers. His touch shook her up and she wiped her eyes. Yani stood up and gave the woman a hug.

"He means what he says Mama Nomble," Yani said.

"Eh eh…the king and queen have called me Mama…me a humble cook," Nomble said.

"Who said you were humble?' N'Jadaka joked, "I heard you brag on your food to rival the chefs in the double palace."

A few patrons eavesdropping laughed at his comment and Nomble held her cheeks.

"Brag on yourself!" N'Jadaka said.

"Yes, I am the best!' Nomble conceded and even Lungile laughed with her. "Let me get the rest of your food. Baba, keep them entertained until I return."

N'Jadaka glanced at the window of the restaurant. A crowd of people stole glances at them, pressing their noses to the glass.

"I will close the blinds to give you privacy," Lungile said.

"No. Let them watch. Queen Yani doesn't want any special attention other than ones needed for safety. We are customers like anyone else."

"No…no kumkani, you are our guests. This meal is our treat."

"I insist on paying. Let me contribute to your continued success."

Lungile wanted to shake his head, but N'Jadaka's voice was commanding and the man grew nervous at the idea of pressing the matter.

Nomble returned with four servers. Three held large platters of food and a fourth carried a warm bowl of lemon water and hand towels to clean their hands. The food was placed on the table along with plates and bowls. Two servers helped him and Yani wash and dry their hands.

"Mama Nomble…Baba Lungile…you will join us, won't you?" Yani asked.

The elderly couple looked shocked at the request. A bottle of white wine was brought over to their table. Yani waved a hand to get the attention of another server.

"Please bring two more plates, bowls and wine glasses for Mama Nomble and Baba Lungile," Yani said.

The server hurried away and N'Jadaka stood to pull back the chairs across from them for the elders. Nomble handed her chef's hat and apron to another server. Her silvery-white hair was styled in puffy Nubian knots. She took her seat next to her husband and N'Jadaka helped push their chairs closer to the food-laden table. Lungile gave instructions to another server to take his place as the host and Nomble gave instructions to her other cooks to continue working without her.

"A toast," N'Jadaka said after he poured glasses of wine for his hosts.

Glasses clinked and the wine tasted crisp and delightfully elegant. A perfect pairing with pork. Yani shared their day in the market and the older couple sat spellbound listening to his wife rave about their honeymoon thus far. N'Jadaka discussed the history of the river market with Lungile full of enthusiasm, and after a couple of glasses of wine and delectable food, all four of them chatted like lifelong friends catching up. Loquacious and energetic, Nomble and Lungile were avid historians and prideful people. N'Jadaka learned more about the River Tribe in one sitting than he ever did reading about it or hearing tidbits from Nakia. The Chilza's were happy to answer any question they had, and Yani had plenty more over dessert.

"There are so many breathtaking places throughout D'Jata," Yani stated over another glass of dessert wine that was nearly empty, "We hiked above the waterfall near Ekuqaleni and it looked so unreal above the trees."

"Ekuqaleni is a very special place to the River Tribe. It is where the Panther Tribe and River Tribe made their truce before the final war of binding us all together with King Bashenga," Nomble said.

N'Jadaka offered to pour more after-dinner wine for her, but she held up a hand and latched her eyes onto Yani's.

"We were told our tribe had a habit of intermarrying with yours," N'Jadaka said.

"Elder Bhira's niece and your cousin carried on the tradition. In a way, you've also carried it," Nomble said.

"How so?"

Nomble folded her plump fingers on the table and smiled at Yani first before wrenching her eyes away to gaze at the king.

"She is a child of Mama Wati. As was your mother kumkani. We see the Lost Tribe as our kin. Other tribes in Wakanda do not agree, but we do. In our oldest creation stories they say that a lost child from outside will return here and raise an empire."

"Empire?" N'Jadaka chuckled.

Yani studied his face carefully. It was a touchy subject with her since their return from the states. Several African nations surrounding them accused him of that so often that it became a narrative that carried far and wide on the continent.

"I have no plans for empire, and I've never read in our books about creation where someone comes back here to do that," he said.

Lungile patted his wife's hand and Nomble grinned.

"Not your Panther Tribe stories, kumkani, ours. My people of this region," Nomble corrected.

"Tell us your story," Yani asked.

"I have taken up much of the talking, I will let my husband share that."

Nomble looked at Lungile and he cleared his throat.

"We used to think they were fables…myths that we told our people in times of war, famine or intertribal disagreements that may have led to more war. I suppose every culture in the world has a story about a savior of some kind appearing to redress all wrongs. Isn't that what the Christians out there believe their Jesus will do? In Wakanda, Bast is the great cosmic mother who birthed daughters and sons that she planted like seeds on this earth. One of her daughters, Mama Wati, was planted near here before there was any water in the world at all. The Ibukun River that we know of today used to be a big dry gorge that stretched all the way to where the sea is now. Bast spit on her precious seed, and our water goddess sprang forth fully formed. This is why every newly married king must offer his seed back to her in a burning ceremony before he can taste the fruits of his wife—"

"Lungile! Sthhh! Must you say that in front of our queen?" Nomble scolded before covering her mouth with embarrassment.

Lungile lifted his hands palms up and stared at his wife.

"Aye…Mama…it is part of the story they have asked me to tell."

Yani laughed and tilted her head. Her eyes twinkled.

"Go on, Baba…tell us more," Yani encouraged.

Nomble rolled her eyes and sat back in her chair with her arm thrown over the back of it, her body turned toward her husband. Lungile slowed his cadence, making his voice sound more dramatic with the telling.

"Mama Wati made the great trek through Wakanda leaving water in her wake, creating all of our lakes and rivers and waterfalls until she reached our empty ocean and gave the world all of the liquid you see all over the planet. She was given dominion over all the water that birthed all the creatures in the sea and even mankind. She is the goddess of childbirth and healing. She is the goddess who cradled the first man and first woman on this earth. The Panther Tribe says that Bast is the mother of us all, but in our ancient stories that were written on the sides of cliff walls in a language we don't even speak anymore, she is actually the grandmother. Mama Wati is our ancient mother. She is your mother too," Lungile said with conviction.

The older man's voice grew softer. He sipped some dessert wine and looked down at his fingers.

"In the dark days, when the slavers came to this continent, we in Wakanda didn't always have secure boarders or have the full capabilities to make our shield dome just yet. The border tribe protected all of us. They are some of our fiercest fighters. We were still warring with the nations along our borders and knew we had to close ourselves off from the rest of the world in order to prevent more bloodshed and other countries discovering our secret. Mama, you tell the rest, you know it better than me," Lungile said.

Nomble turned back to Yani and N'Jadaka.

"Well…there are several versions of a prophecy that have been handed down, and depending on which clan you talk to, it is said that a child of ours…a Wakandan…would come to us from the outside world and help protect the entire nation by creating a vast empire by absorbing other tribes into our fold. No one believed it of course because we had closed ourselves off for centuries. We were never slaves to anyone so it would be impossible for Wakandan blood to leave our borders…let alone return to conquer other nations and rule over them. But here is the most interesting part, and this comes from the eastern faction of our region…"

N'Jadaka glanced at Yani and his wife's eyes were as big as plums. She had leaned forward in her seat. He reached over and rubbed the middle of her back. Nomble palmed her hands together, warming up to her addition of the story.

"The people there say that it's not one child who will return, but actually two from very different places in the world who will guide the hand in the building of a future empire. Unfortunately, the stories never say when this will happen."

"Well it can't be me or in my time because I'm the only person to return here with Wakandan lineage from the outside that shifted the culture… and like I said, empire building is not on my agenda," N'Jadaka said.

Nomble nodded her head.

"The prophecy says that it will happen in a time of great distress, and I think you have already fulfilled it when you fought the alien intruders. You are powerful enough for two people, kumkani," Nomble said.

"Or," N'Jadaka said, "My greatest grandfather already fulfilled the myth by uniting all the tribes during the great battles back in the day. Remember, he was still an outsider to your people until he married Queen Tiye, your tribal member. Their first child was born outside of this territory and brought back to your people."

"True, true," Nomble said, "But the elders of long ago had many stories and who knows, we could be living out what was told long ago and choose to ignore it because we think myths and fairy tales are for children."

N'Jadaka thought of the stories he was raised with back in Oakland. Believing in fairy tales from his father brought him an entire kingdom to rule. As far as he was concerned, fairy tales held kernels of truth. Had he fulfilled the legends on their cliff walls and whispers around long ago campfires? If two children were supposed to come back…

Riki and Joba.

His heart thumped a little faster. His two youngest children came from two very different places in the world. They had Wakandan blood through him.

Lungile lifted his wine glass and his hand shook slightly. He was a little tipsy.

"To King N'Jadaka Udaku and also our first ruler, King Bashenga…two great kings who helped save the nation twice…our myths who sprang to life!" Lungile said.

N'Jadaka and Yani raised their glasses for a final toast.

A pregnant customer headed for the exit with her husband and Yani stopped them to ask how far along she was. The expectant mother shared that she was seven months along. After they left, servers began lighting candles on all the tables. Yani checked her kimoyo beads.

"We have been here for three hours. Taking up all your time," Yani said.

"Stay as long as you like, in fact, stay for the dancing," Nomble said.

"Dancing?" N'Jadak glanced around at the dining area. The Chilza's restaurant had nothing but tables and chairs for eating.

"Come see…in the back," Lungile said.

He ushered them with their Doras who finished eating their own meal hours ago to a door that led to another section of the restaurant that was set up with a bar and a dance floor. A bartender and a few waiters prepared for an evening crowd. D.J. equipment was set up in a corner and a woman behind the D.J. booth fiddled with a soundboard. Everyone stopped what they were doing to set their eyes on the king and queen.

The walls were decorated with giant pink flamingoes and 3D blue lagoons that gave the space a marshland setting that didn't match the décor in the restaurant. Nomble noticed the confusion on N'Jadaka's face.

"In three weeks the pink flamingoes flock here before they set off for Birnin S'Yan's beaches, right before the Mama Wati celebrations. It is a spectacular sight. Vast numbers, over two hundred thousand alone flock to Umbono Lake and then migrate through our territory," Nomble said.

"What do you think, kumkani, hmm?" Lungile said, wiggling his hips and holding his hands out like he had a dancing partner, "You and our wonderful queen enjoying a night of music and dancing together?"

N'Jadaka waved his hand. He rubbed his stomach and reached for Yani's hand, pulling her next to him.

"You have fed us beyond capacity. Your reputation as a master chef has been proven Mama Nomble and because of that, we'll probably start to nod off. Another time," he said.

Yani released his hand and held Nomble's shoulders, "Thank you for your hospitality and the fantastic food. We will come again real soon and bring our children."

"That would be our honor, ukumkanikazi. Please let us show you out," Nomble said.

Lungile rushed off to the back of the bar and met them outside later carrying another bottle of top shelf wine and a small tan biodegradable container.

"A gift from us. Enjoy it tonight. Our best wine you enjoyed and some spicy plantains to snack on later. It is Mama Wati's favorite offering outside of sugary sweets and flowers. Give some to the river and she will taste that you know her as your own," Lungile said.

N'Jadaka took the gifts. The Dora Milaje blocked off the street as the royal couple said their final goodbyes. The evening patrons studied their interactions and Okoye summoned the Royal Talon Fighter to fly above them for a gravitational pick up. The tracker beam pulled them into the aircraft and Yani hugged N'Jadaka's waist.

"Today was so beautiful," Yani said.

She settled in their comfortable couch in the back and they watched their flight across the boardwalk. Ayo traced her fingers on the viewscreen across from them to lift the six canoes they used that were stuffed with all of their river market shopping. A gravitational force field kept the canoes stuck against the bottom of the aircraft.

They arrived at the treehouse encampment in time to catch a new display of stars above the river tributary. The canoes were lowered onto the ground with them and Yani picked out items that could go onto their houseboat, and the rest that would be stored on the Talon Fighter. The Doras worked quickly and the canoes were pulled back up to the aircraft.

"Remember to leave two canoes at the houseboat. We'll need the extra for when the children join us," N'Jadaka instructed Aneka.

Yani pulled off her isicholo and walked up the stairs into the treehouse.

"I am beat," she sighed.

She tucked her crown inside the special hat box made for it that locked by her fingerprint. Too tired to bathe or do anything else, they slipped off their clothes and went to bed early. They cuddled and listened to the night song of nocturnal creatures.

"Okoye had a hard time today, yeah?" Yani said in the darkness of the room.

The faint light of stars appeared above the skylight. He stroked Yani's arm.

"She doesn't like us to mingle with citizens in the streets for long. Too much unpredictability and one thing that woman wants is to control every security move."

"It looked like she had a little fun, even though she was strict."

"Yeah, they all did I think."

"Imagine being forced to canoe on a lovely day and fly across tree tops," Yani said.

"The nerve of us making her do all that," N'Jadaka teased.

"I know right? Her having to eat chocolate and cake samples because the queen couldn't make up her mind which tasted better."

"You also demanded that she eat that jumbo fried shrimp plate while on duty at the restaurant."

"I expect our security personnel to comply with my wishes at all times."

"You are a cruel ruler. They will ask to have your head cut off!"

They giggled together.

"Tomorrow we will simply relax, read, and nap…deal?' he said.

"Deal."

Yani lifted her head and pressed her lips softly against his.

"I love you so much," she whispered.

"I love you, too."

Yani drifted off to sleep before he did. When she had slept for a least an hour peacefully, he detached from her and pulled on a robe. He needed to check the grounds before he could fall asleep and decompress from the day alone.

"I know your big asses aren't on that furniture," N'Jadaka scolded.

S'Bu and Unathi lounged on the outdoor couch. Unathi jumped up at the sound of his voice and quickly leapt from the couch to scurry onto a thatch of soft grass near the treehouse. S'Bu rolled over on his belly.

"Nah, man. Get down and go sleep somewhere else. Y'all ain't slick. Now I know what you do when we aren't watching. Go on now…get."

N'Jadaka clapped his hands and S'Bu joined the other panther.

"Watch my wife. Stay here," he said in Wakandan.

Both panthers ambled over to either side of the staircase entrance of the treehouse and watched him move quietly around the perimeter. He sniffed the air and used his own special nocturnal vision to check for movement of any animals. He had been warned that crocodiles sometimes crawled onto the land to sleep under their outdoor furniture often, attracted by the energy of the place. There were protective barriers and warning systems in place to let them know if any had snuck into their area.

Nothing was out of order.

The moon finally rose above the trees. A halo of colorful hazy light surrounded it indicating new rain to come in a few days. It was a good sign. He and Yani would be floating on their houseboat and could enjoy the patter of raindrops falling on the lake they would anchor down in for a week.

Moonlight sparkled on the tributary and he thought of the conversation with the Chilzas. They reiterated what he had been told about Ekuqaleni. It was a place of enchantment that made one feel that anything in life was possible for those who walked among the ancient trees. He understood why the people there considered it a healing place. There was a spiritual energy that pervaded it. It prodded the mind and body to recognize it.

It also made him feel like something would happen that would nudge him to some important discovery about himself. There was a power there that still made the hairs on his neck and arms rise like it did when he did his sabbatical at the Temple of Bast. This was a kindred power. He searched within his soul for reassurance from Bast herself. She rested within him quietly letting him settle into the expectation. Ogum slumbered in a deep repose, unbothered by the place.

Ekuqaleni was tranquility and contentment. A needed retreat from the responsibility of holding up a nation that dominated the political landscape of the outside world. It gave his wife joy, and whatever Yani wanted he would give it to her in abundance with more trips together out in nature.

He wandered about on a sort of meditative walk that cleansed the slate for that day. The staff would bring them breakfast in bed in the morning per his directions. Perhaps by noon he and Yani would frolic in the bigger pool of water, or maybe take a dip in the tributary. Sunbathe. Sleep. Make love.

The children crossed his mind. He missed them dearly, but he had to admit, time away from them and being alone with his wife was a dream come true. No wonder his parents snuck away to their bedroom as many times as they did when he was a child. It was good to be in solitude with your beloved and not have to worry about your child for a few hours. His parents had one child, but he had three and more energy depletion because of it. He couldn't even imagine his parents handling two more of him growing up.

Two more of him.

The Chilza's story still poked around in his mind. The possibility of Riki and Joba fulfilling some long ago legend bothered him. Unlike his own later childhood, N'Jadaka wanted his children to grow up knowing nothing but peace and security. He would be the only one of his new lineage that would experience war and have to build up nations to defend their own lands. One day all three of his children would have to do the mandatory military service required of all citizens. He would raise them to become whatever they wanted and whichever one took over the throne, he would become their counsel.

The idea flitted in his mind about whether or not he wanted them to even take on ruling the nation. All Udakus had been raised to one day take the throne. What if Riki or Joba didn't want to? Sydette was legally his daughter in the eyes of the ruling class, so she would also be considered for the role. But he knew all of the tribes would challenge her at Warrior Falls. Legal daughter or not, the elites preferred direct bloodlines. He couldn't see Yani allowing their eldest to fight five challengers. Sweet Pea was a gentle spirit who detested all violence. She had survived mercenaries holding guns to her body and being shot at as a baby. It wasn't in her to inflict harm. Truthfully, he just didn't see his children choosing that life anyway. Sydette wanted to be a scientist. Riki a rock star. Joba wanted to learn new languages and study art.

A tickling in his gut compelled him to walk closer to the water.

His mother told him a child was coming that would shake up the world. Maybe the throne wasn't meant for his three oldest, but for the one that wasn't there yet. His mother had been adamant that he look out for that new one because they would be something different. N'Jadaka wasn't seeking to build empire. But maybe the next Udaku from him would.

He hurried back into the treehouse and collected three pieces of spicy plantains from the container Lungile gave him. Returning to the tributary, he knelt down in the soft, moist earth and offered the plantains to the water. They floated away toward the center and were swept downstream quickly. Still kneeling, he lifted his palms up and stared at the water.

"Mama Wati, I offer you a gift. My mind is troubled with thoughts about my children. I was a man who sought retribution in this land, but instead I gained my soul and my family back. Bast raised me and Ogum chose me, but I feel as if you have touched my life more times than I can count without even knowing it. In Brazil I knew you as Yemanjá. With my Nana Jean, she called you Cymbee. I see traces of you in my wife. Back where she is from, they call her the Black mermaid. By nature, I am not a humble man. I come from a father who was as large as a god in my eyes until he was taken from me. But now I am here…on my knees in your domain, asking for guidance…a sign that all will be well with my family. If there is a child coming who is going to build an empire, help me understand why this needs to be…if it needs to be. I have killed and spilled blood all over the earth. I don't want that life for my children. I beg of you, under the eyes of Bast, your mother, and Ogum who wields the iron of war in my blood…please. Don't let my children ever have to see the destruction that war brings again. I want them to become who I could've become if…"

N'Jadaka's night vision caught sight of the crocodile much too late to move. It rose to the surface, black eyes shining with icy concentration. He heard and sensed movement behind him. Turning his head slowly, he found S'Bu and Unathi flanking him. They sat on their haunches in a relaxed stance and not one of protecting him from the predator.

N'Jadaka regarded the giant crocodile coolly as it ambled its big body slowly from the water. He held his breath and kept the springing of his panther suit at the tip of his one immediate thought. His natural recoil reflexes were kept still and he waited to see what the croc would do.

Bast moved and the pressure of her presence sat at the top of his head. Ogum remained submerged in inactivity. This was a Wakandan matter not needing his input.

The crocodile settled its mammoth head in front of N'Jadaka's bent knees. This wasn't an ambush at all. The creature could've snapped the king's head into its giant maw, and that should've been unlikely from jump since their encampment was surrounded by security detectors. A powerful system in the water was also on alert to prevent them from sneaking onto land without people knowing. There was even a force field deterrent set up for crocs and water vipers that gave a slight shock to help them move away from that section of the river. The eyeshine in the crocs slit pupils reflected an unnatural iridescent glow that grew brighter. Mighty jaws snapped open and the croc lunged forward, its heavy snout-tip pushing weighted pressure against N'Jadaka's chest before it disintegrated into a splash of cold river water onto his chest, waist, and thighs.

He threw his hands up and gasped, startled by the frigid water soaking his robe through to the skin underneath. N'Jadaka touched his chest and the cool liquid evaporated. His robe and skin were as dry as when he first approached the edge of the tributary. He exhaled relief and his body felt light and airy. The intrusive thoughts about his children's future turned into warmth and serenity. In his mind, Mama Wati let her presence be known. Nana Jean once told him that alligators and crocodiles held spiritual meaning. They existed in two worlds, the physical and spiritual. The land was the physical world, and the water they submerged in was the spiritual one. He took on the experience as a message that he was a part of those two worlds and he would have to trust the greater wisdom of the gods to carry him through.

S'Bu nudged his head against N'Jadaka's shoulder. The king lifted his arm and scratched the back of the big cat's ears.

"You two were letting me know it was okay. I understand," he said.

N'Jadaka stood up and tilted his head back. He bathed his face in moonlight and said a prayer for his parents. And his beloved Nana Jean.

Breakfast in bed was so good, Yani ate seconds and refused to get out of it until it hit high noon.

She bathed and put on a bikini, joining N'Jadaka outside to sunbathe while reading. She held a physical book in her hand and stretched her left arm above her head indulging in doing nothing. N'Jadaka read a physical book right next to her on the lounger couch wearing tight trunks that might as well had been briefs. It did nothing to hide all that he held between his legs, his dick print and balls outlined visibly. She peeked at his face. He'd been pretty quiet for most of the afternoon. They'd chatted a lot during breakfast and once they were in their own little worlds reading, no words had passed between them for two hours.

Yani placed her book on her chest and sighed to get N'Jadaka's attention. He turned the page of his book and scratched at a scar on his chest.

"Should we call the kids?" Yani asked.

"No."

N'Jadaka kept reading, not even looking at her.

"We've been sending them vids and pictures, but we haven't spoken to them directly since we left. You think they miss us?"

"I'm sure they do, but think about it. There are a ton of little cousins still in the palace on holiday with our family. They're busy running around and having fun. Probably preoccupied with the wedding gifts we gave them too."

His eyes scanned the pages on the book, but Yani caught the glint in his eye the moment she mentioned them. There was a little twitch in his jawline too, like he'd been waiting to talk about his pride and joy.

"Three days is a long time not talking to them. Maybe just a quick chat up?" Yani said.

"We agreed to five days of no direct contact. For us."

Yani turned on her side, her fully baked skin two shades darker and smelling like sweet coconut oil.

"Just five minutes. Not a minute more. I want to see their faces."

N'Jadaka dropped his book near his side and stared at her.

"Didn't we talk about not coddling them too much? This was an opportunity to build up character and self-reliance. They have an entire staff, three nannies, great-grandparents, aunties, uncles, and cousins keeping them occupied. I don't want to be one of those helicopter parents," he said.

Yani chewed her lip and squinted when a ray of bright sunlight struck her eye when he adjusted his separate couch back support to a lower position. It unblocked the sun from his bulky frame. He glanced over at her and the pout on her face made him smirk.

"Five minutes," he said.

Yani clapped her hands and wiggled in her seat. He tapped his kimoyo beads for all three children. Riki answered first. The eyes that stared back at them with his floating image looked just like his father's when he was annoyed.

"Baba, what is it now? You keep calling us," Riki whined.

"What?" Yani yelped.

She smacked N'Jadaka's arm. Joba and Sydette's images popped up next to Riki's.

"How many times has your father called you guys?" Yani asked.

"Four times today," Sydette sighed out with an equally annoyed tone.

"Four times?" Yani said. "But I was here and I didn't see him call anyone."

They'd eaten breakfast. Swam in the river, showered, sunbathed, read their books, ate lunch and…

Yani's lip curled into a grin. She'd gone to the restroom four times that day. He'd called the kids when she was inside the treehouse.

N'Jadaka quirked his lips and shrugged his shoulders.

"All this backchat you were doin' man, and here you are calling them behind my back."

"Can we make this quick please, Mama? I'm in the middle of something with Zuko and Balwe, and if I don't pay attention, Zuko will move one of my game pieces," Riki said.

Yani looked them all over one by one. Happy, healthy, and whole. Her perfect trio.

"I miss you. It's been a long time since I spoke to you all."

"Three days isn't a long time, Mama," Joba said.

"To us it is. Neither one of us has been away from you all this long together. It feels uncomfortable sometimes," Yani said.

"But you're having fun, right?" Sydette asked.

"Yes Sweet Pea, we're having the best time—"

"Snack time everybody! Leave your toys and games where they are…what…what are you doing?" Umama said.

Their great-grandmother's face came into view.

"N'Jadaka, Yani…is everything okay?" Umama asked.

"We're fine, just checking in with the kids," N'Jadaka said.

"Again?" Umama said.

"I wanted to see their faces this time, Umama. Let them go have their snack."

"Okay, Mama, bye!" Riki said.

The call winked out.

"You sneaky cheater!" Yani said, pinching his arm. "Talking all that stoic shit and you're the one to break our pact."

"Okay, okay, I missed them a lot. They were on my mind all last night and part of today. Thinking about their future."

"Thinking about their future because of the story we heard last night?"

"Yeah. A part of me doesn't want them to carry the weight of the throne, and yet another part of me wants their legacy to be better than mine."

"You're going to be king for a very long time. We'll probably be great-grandparents before you even have to worry about succession."

"Even so, I can't be the Golden Jaguar forever. One of them may have to take the mantle while I'm still king."

Yani cradled his chin with her hand, the softness of his beard warmed by the sun.

"Listen to me. That's a long way away."

"I hear you. But you're right. It's nothing to worry about now."

He rolled over and placed his head on her stomach. She rubbed his head and untangled his locs on his back. Tension rested in his muscles. The future still rested on him. Yani hummed him a tune and stroked his forehead gently. The tautness in his muscles relaxed under her fingers.

Yani didn't like that he pondered too long on the children and their political future in Wakanda. They were finally a happy family unit and their children were living fruitful lives as normal children. At least as normal as royal children could be.

He needed something to get his mind off of politics and the march of time to come. She wanted to have fun with him and not waste their energy soothing fears.

"It's getting extra warm for me, I'm going to go cool off and rest indoors for a minute until the sun is behind the trees," she murmured in his ear.

"No, stay here. You've made me too comfortable. Don't leave now, it's not that hot."

"I'll be back. You can take this heat more than me right now. I want to fix my hair too, oil my scalp a little," she said.

He whined and pretended to throw a tantrum with his feet. She bent her head closer to his and kissed his forehead. Scooting off the couch, Yani headed for the treehouse and bee-lined to the bedroom where she rummaged through their belongings and pulled out a wig box. Inside was the red wig N'Jadaka loved. She shook the tresses and carried it into the restroom. Using a brush by the sink bowl, she smoothed the hair and fixed it on her head with a bit of hair sealant and a spritz of perfume on her body. She unfastened her bikini and pulled on a short silk bathing robe that rose above her thighs.

Staring at her face in the mirror, she added a little make-up and pink lip gloss. Debating about adding eyelashes, she eventually took the time to add some onto her top lid and made one final inspection of herself. Sexy, and she carried the aura of a different woman. That's what she wanted to be. Not the fretting mommy needing to check up on her kids. That woman could return when the children joined them in eleven days. She fixed the bit up lip gloss that ran over her lip line and decided to add one more detail before she left the treehouse. The bottle of lubricant on the open cupboard would help with what she needed to do.

After her preparations in the restroom, she returned to the outside where N'Jadaka rested with an arm over his eyes.

"Is this seat taken?" Yani said.

N'Jadaka lifted his arm and looked at her. The grin plastered on his lips thrilled her.

"My wife was planning to come back later," he said.

"Oh, well, I'll just find someplace else to sit."

"Nah, you can chill until she comes back. Long time no see, Toya."

Yani pushed back the hair on her shoulders.

"You don't mind if I sunbathe next you…nude, yeah?"

He patted the vacant seat next to his on the comfortable couch lounger. She took off the robe slowly and turned to place it on the end table next to the couch. Bending over further than she needed to, she allowed him to see the cherry-red anal plug heart she had inserted in the restroom. She crawled onto the couch knees first and settled in next to him, her toasted skin sparkly with mica chips from her coconut oil. He watched her recline and his gaze fell to her breasts.

"You sure this is okay?" she asked.

"Yeah."

Her right hand drifted to her vulva. Running her fingers gently around her clit, she kept her eyes on his face while he watched her hand play with her pussy. He reached over and played with her right breast, squeezing her nipple. They didn't speak. Yani dipped her fingers lower to open her labia. She made sure he saw that it glistened with her own arousal. The piercings they loved looked so pretty. Her inner labia fell open and the puffy engorgement made him groan. Yani stared at his swim trunks and the bulge there grew and stretched the material. She reached over and palmed it, feeling the girth inside harden under her touch. His fingers trailed down to her vulva and he bypassed her clit to finger her opening, her arousal making his digits sticky.

"Do you miss fucking me, kumkani?" she said, all breathy and low, as if she didn't want anyone else to hear them.

"Yesssss."

He moaned and slipped his trunks down, freeing his erection. The full mass of his dick had her sighing his royal title, exciting N'Jadaka more.

"Kumkani, I don't want to get you in trouble on your honeymoon. But I know you miss fucking me in the ass and stretching out my pussy."

She gripped his dick, squeezing it first to test how hard it was before sliding her hand up and down.

"I miss this big dick, kumkani. Let me make you happy."

"Shit…yes…keep squeezing it like that…"

He sat back and let her work her fingers around him. She nestled her index and thumb under the ridge of his tip and twisted it in tight half circles. It didn't take long for pre-cum to spill out. She stopped her movement to let him kick off his trunks all the way, and then continued pleasuring him. Her pussy was already acting up and the fullness of her anal plug hinted at the debauchery to come.

"Has your wife been good to you?"

N'Jadaka's lips were smooshed together; his focus lost on her hand getting slick from his pre-cum. His eyes became glassy and narrowed. She began to give his dick harder strokes up and down, loving the feel of her hand wetting up his shaft, making it sticky. Lowering her head, she darted the tip of her tongue in and out of his slit.

"Fuck!"

N'Jadaka's voiced carried over her head as it moved up and down, deep throating his dick. His right hand slid down her spine and around the curve of her ass to finger her pussy. He finger-fucked her, plowing his digits into her fast, wiggling them back and forth so he could hear how wet she was. She gasped when he spanked her hard. Rubbing on her backside, he moaned and thrust his hips up to shove his dick further into her throat. He pushed on her anal plug and fondled the shiny heart.

"Lemme stretch that pussy before my wife comes back," he whispered in her ear.

Yani obeyed, scrambling onto her knees and straddling his dick in reverse cowgirl. She wanted him to look at her anal plug in anticipation of stuffing his dick there in its place. Widening her thighs, she guided him inside her slippery entrance and the tightness in her ass doubled her pleasure with his dick stretching her out too.

"Kumkani, you feel so good in my tight little pussy," Yani huffed, meaning every word she said while looking over her shoulder at him.

N'Jadaka slapped her ass cheeks with a determined rhythm.

"Look at that ass…look at that big ass…tight pussy fucking me so good…grip that shit…yeah…grip it tighter…you a little grip monster on that thang girl…fuck…"

His words tumbled over each other and Yani bounced on his dick, flexing her back muscles to give him a view of the perfect arch.

"I missed your big dick, kumkani," Yani yelped.

"Ride that dick, baby…yes, ride it hard Toya…"

Yani twisted her hips from side to side so he could experience the pleasure of her cheeks bouncing as she moved. N'Jadaka kept smacking her ass and her backside grew hot and tingled with delicious pain. He rubbed both sides of her rump to give her skin a break from his slaps, but he continued again when she did slow winds all the way to the tip and back down. The slow motion dance on his dick had him shouting her name and cursing about how good it felt. Yani rose up again and leaned forward to let him watch her opening throb and grip the tip of his dick with syncopated squeezes that looked like sucking motions from her pussy. She practiced for weeks with her queen training on the erotic arts. Her instructor was a no-nonsense elder noblewoman who gave Yani silver balls of varying sizes to insert in her vagina and walk around with for hours using her pelvic floor muscles to grip them. Every time a ball fell out, she had to re-insert and try again or risk a scolding. Sex was a very serious matter in the royal lineage. Even N'Jadaka had to take lessons for his dick, tongue and fingers to please his new queen. Those tiresome lessons paid off as she made her man holler and grunt with pleasure. She gripped and released his tip in fast successive motions, twisting her body ever so slightly to change the angle. Her suction around the ridge was like the lure used to catch a big fish. Her husband gasped and clutched the cushion of the couch.

She dropped down on his length hard and used her walls to clench around the root of his dick while she fondled and squeezed his nutsack. He was literal putty in her hands only eliciting moans as she showed off her sex magic. Those queen lessons truly enhanced the natural gifts she already possessed, and helped her build up more stamina to handle the king. She did the ripple effect, using her walls to clench his dick in sections as she rose up and down slowly. Because he stretched her with his girth, N'Jadaka could watch her pussy lips kiss and pulse on every inch of his dick. She became more excited by the delicious feeling of fullness in her insides. His sounds of enjoyment rewarded her pussy with hot throbbing coming from his dick. Her perspiration increased from the furnace of his heavy body radiating so much heat.

The pressure of his dick tugging on her clit and the anal plug filling her up had Yani speaking in tongues. Her skin tingled all over and the heat from his blows to her ass cheeks created a perfect storm of pleasure for her that she couldn't hold onto anymore. Her pussy throbbed on a final thrust from him. A pulsing sensation raced up her spine and she trembled all over. Yani threw her head back and wailed out his name as her orgasm choked his dick and her own throat. Her voice echoed above the trees and shushed a few birds who had been chirping in the late afternoon sunlight.

When he couldn't take it anymore himself, N'Jadaka plucked the anal plug from her ass and pulled her down against him. Her back went into his chest and he spooned her for a few minutes, playing with her breasts and kissing her neck and shoulders before pushing his dick into her ass. She was ready for it, already keening and pulling her ass cheek to the side so he could watch his entry.

"Bitch I love it…I love when you let me fuck you in the ass…taking all this dick…"

His voice sounded bewildered and hungry for release. She gripped the cushion on the couch and held still, letting him pump wild thrusts into her.

"Just letting me fuck you like this…nasty little bitch…fucking the king's dick…I'm all up in there…fuck!"

"Your wife will be back soon," she said, urging him on to glory.

"Tryna rush me like I'm scared of being caught?"

"Aren't you, kumkani? The queen wouldn't be happy to see you fucking one of your secret women."

"I think she'd like watching me fuck you."

Yani gasped as he slowed down his thrusts and played with her breasts.

"I think her pussy would get wet watching this big ass dick stretching you…watching you cream all over me Toya…"

He stroked her clit, plucking at the piercing there. His breath warmed her earlobe and he nibbled on the outer shell of her ear.

"Or maybe you'd like to watch me fuck my wife like this. She takes dick so good in the ass."

"Yeah?"

Yani shuddered as her skin combusted with the fire of her lust listening to his words.

"My wife is the best. Before we were married…back when we were on an island together, she used to let me fuck her in the ass all the time. She has a nice big bubble. Niggas been after her for years and still want her. But she's mine and she lets me do anything I want to her. When I fuck her pussy, it weeps on my dick…"

Yani gasped. Listening to him talk about her in the third person was such a turn on. N'Jadaka had transformed into a trickster, changing the power dynamic of their encounter. She had come down from the treehouse to seduce and drive him crazy and he flipped it on her. He shifted their position, forcing her on her knees with her ass up and her head down. He kept a hand on the back of her neck and fucked her ass with slow hard thrusts. Each time he smacked against her rump, the slapping sound was loud and disrespectful to her ears.

"My wife is such a good girl. She knows to get on her knees without me asking so I can cum all over her pretty face. She'll lick up every drop of cum I give her. And she can take my dick so deep…lemme show you how I fuck her ass deep, Toya."

Yani began whimpering. The nerve endings in her ass were on high alert and her clit twitched.

"I took her to an opera in Zana and she let me fuck her ass right in the theater booth. She hiked her dress up and got on the floor and let me fuck her like that, even though there were nobles in the sections next to us. Feel it? Feel how I fucked her ass, Toya?"

"Yes!"

Yani cried out and she squirted on the couch. The sudden release heightened everything.

"I'm making you squirt, baby?"

The tone of his voice was so raspy that Yani's body squirted again, harder, making a complete mess on the couch.

"I'ma nut in you so deep. Let you have what my wife gets…yeah…feel all that? Your king is balls deep in that ass."

He pressed a hand on the arch of her back, and then gripped her hips with both hands.

"Taking it so good…that's a good girl…that's it…let your king fuck that ass…ooohhh….'bout to nut…fuck…here it comes…here it comes…shit…here it comes!"

He thrust hard once more and shot hot cum with curses flying from his mouth. Yani took it all and fell over in a satisfied lump when he finished. Her entire vulva throbbed and her clit still pulsed with anticipation.

He allowed her to rest a few minutes. She lifted from the couch and smoothed the hair on her wig. His dick was still hard.

"Come on," he said, lifting her up in his arms and cradling her against his chest.

"Where are we going?"

"Inside."

"But the queen…"

"She'll just have to deal with her man fucking his lover on their bed."

Yani held onto his neck tight. He bounded up the treehouse stairs and carried her into the bedroom.

"Wait here," he said.

She listened to him shuffle into the restroom and run water to clean his dick off. He returned and stroked his dick with fresh lubricant on it. Yani admired his body. He had always been a beautiful man. From the moment she first laid eyes on him, N'Jadaka was the finest chiseled specimen of man she had ever seen. The scars on his body actually enhanced his beauty and that man knew he was physical perfection just by the way he preened in front of her.

He lowered himself to the bedding and held her close to him.

"I will show you how I make love to her," he said.

He kissed her forehead with lips so soft that she forgot that he was her husband. The scent of his skin reminded her of honeysuckle blooming and she held onto his shoulders feeling safe in his arms. He rubbed his nose against hers making her smile.

"I love you," he said.

Yani pressed her lips against his and savored the softness. Oh how she fought to have this man! From the naysayers back home to the nobles who questioned her worthiness, Yani held onto her husband tight, feeling his heartbeat against her chest. Her tongue twisted around his and the joy in her heart thrummed throughout her body, raising the temperature on her skin and causing her pores to sweat even more. Their combined heat raised her arousal. He bit the side of her neck with those sharp slugs and Yani gasped, her eyes glued to the opening in the ceiling.

N'Jadaka penetrated her pussy with a quick motion in his hips and he marinated inside of her, keeping his kisses deep and wet inside her mouth. Her walls contracted when he pushed in further, accommodating him with intense slick heat.

He sucked in a breath when she squeezed around him tighter. His claw necklace dangled above her nose. She raised her legs up and held her thighs. N'Jadaka raised up on his hands and watched his dick go slowly in and out of her pussy. The focused concentration gave her joyful shivers. He loved looking at her body while he made love, and kept checking in with her by staring at her face. Swiveling his hips he slowed down his pumps and drops of sweat fell on her from his chest.

"Show me how much you love me," she begged.

N'Jadaka inhaled and then huffed out puffs of frantic air. The pussy clenching was getting to him. Yani absorbed the yearning he had to make her cum again while he stretched her out. Her clit was engorged and sat there fat and gorgeous like a precious jewel.

He was so big everywhere. His body. His dick. His personality. His legacy. His love.

Yani had shaped him and the world he conquered. No two people had ever wielded the power they did together all over the globe. His power over her body flowed out in hot waves across her tender skin. Her breasts bounced with his thrusts and his eyes darted down to watch. He loved every inch of her and she could see that clearly in those cunning brown eyes. She panted. He was too much. In the end of all their intimate encounters he was always too much. God, what a blessing.

He hit a spot inside of her that made her scream his name that became exaltations to heaven. N'Jadaka watched her face as she came on his dick and she felt him swell and spill inside of her. Looking down at their wet messy joining, his dick pulsed and so did his balls.

Yani let go of her thighs and let her orgasm cascade over any thoughts of anything outside of Ekuqaleni. All that mattered was them. Right there. Right now.

She gave herself permission to forget her children and the rest of the world.

N'Jadaka was all that she would live and breathe for in that moment. They were perfect and divine and meant to make love for a lifetime.

Attendants carried away the last of Yani's personal belongings she used in Ekuqaleni.

N'Jadaka conferred with their Dora Milaje and she took a final walk past the treehouse and into the forest. Their houseboat was ready for the next part of their honeymoon and all that was left was to give instructions to their personal staff and notify the palace that they were leaving within the hour.

"Don't go far," N'Jadaka called out.

"I won't," she said, waving at him.

She wandered past the large mineral pool and headed over to the mini waterfall that fed into the stream that attracted the best butterflies because of all the lovely flowers that beckoned with their nectar. The long wrap-around cornflower-blue dress she wore brushed past her ankles and a gentle breeze blew across her face. The coolness from the canopy gave her skin a break from the sun as she rounded a bend in the stream to get one last look at the mini waterfall.

In her peripheral, she caught sight of something dark and low to the ground. She pretended not to see the panther cub until two others popped out on her side next to it, all three watching her walk along the damp path of forest floor dirt in her sandals. Above the canopy she could hear and feel the vibration of the Royal Talon Fighter leaving Ekuqaleni.

"I'm going to ignore you because you aren't real and you won't harm me," she said out loud, throwing her voice over her shoulder at the cubs.

There was no sense looking at them, they would only disappear after a few minutes anyway. Whatever magic or spirits that lived in the forest would stay there. Yani was leaving in thirty minutes.

"Where are you?" N'Jadaka asked.

His image floated above her wrist. She stopped walking to catch her breath.

"Not far. I wanted to see the little waterfall and maybe collect some flowers before we leave," she said.

"Do that, then head on back. I'll wait for you at the firepit," he said.

She tapped her beads and his image winked out. Bending down to pluck the best flowers, one of the cubs brushed against her leg. She yelped and jumped back, not expecting it to be real flesh and blood at all. It purred loudly and rubbed against her ankles, its cute little tail flicking with agitation.

Should she pick it up?

Yani glanced around. The other two cubs sat on their haunches watching her…and waited.

What harm could befall her if she bent down to test if it were a solid thing?

N'Jadaka waited for her. All she had to do was walk away and leave with happy memories. They weren't real, just a trick of the mind. She decided to forgo touching and spun around to head back to her husband.

The cub jumped in front of her path and rubbed himself back and forth against both of her ankles. She felt the warmth from its chunky body. It opened its mouth and gave a weak kittenish yawp, showing its tiny baby teeth. Too cute. It stared up at her with cute eyes and cute whiskers.

Yani bent down and the first cub ran in front of her, looking back to see if she still locked eyes on it. It gave that pitiful baby panther cry again and the two other cubs ran toward them and ran around her in a circle, rubbing their little warm bodies against her ankles too. They jumped away when she tried to pet them, and ran in front of her a few feet, looking back to check her stance. She walked forward when they ambled back to her, but the closer she got, they ran ahead of her again and stopped. Yani got the message.

They wanted her to follow them.

Running ahead of her in the opposite direction she needed to go, Yani had a decision to make once more. Go with them or stay?

N'Jadaka knew where she was. If she sensed danger, she could scream and tap her beads, and he would come to her rescue within seconds with his enhanced speed. She could follow them and if they led her to someplace sketchy, she would put up the force field that was embedded in her beads to protect her until her husband arrived. Ekuqaleni never showed her any harm or made her feel unsafe. Panthers were the Udaku's animal guides. If she left without seeing where they went, the curiosity would get the better of her and ruin her honeymoon. She tapped her beads.

"N'Jadaka, I see the panther cubs again," she whispered into the beads.

"Stay where you are, I'll be there in a minute."

"They rubbed against my legs. They seem real."

"Do not touch them," he said.

"Okay. I'll wait here."

It would take him at least fifteen minutes to walk there.

The cubs ran ahead of her again, much further this time. They still looked back at her to make sure she had eyes on them.

Wait.

Yani tapped her foot and glanced over her shoulder. N'Jadaka was taking too long coming to her. The cubs padded further south. She took a few steps forward to keep them in her eyesight as they passed through some low fronds off the path she had taken.

"Hurry N'Jadaka," she muttered under her breath, not wanting to cause the cubs to disappear before he arrived. Although he couldn't see them, he could sense them, and it would be better to have him go with her on a wild goose chase. Or a panther chase.

She couldn't see them ahead of her anymore and took a chance following. Nothing in her gut felt weird and she wasn't afraid.

She quickly caught up to them and they began to run. They weren't as fast as her and she lifted the hem of her dress to keep from tripping on it. The shade around her seemed to grow darker the further she went and she brushed away low hanging branches, vines and brush to keep up.

Ahead of her was a clearing and she caught sight of the cubs running as fast as their little legs could carry them. She started laughing, feeling the air on her skin rush by, and the wonderful physical sensation of her leg muscles stretching in a good sprint. To her right was a part of the tributary that led to the main river of the Ibukun, and that shocked her because it meant that she had run further than she thought. Twenty miles.

Yani took in her surroundings and checked her kimoyos. There was no way she should've been able to run that far in under fifteen seconds.

"Yani, where are you?" N'Jadaka's voice broke her reverie.

"I'm here!" she said, looking at his floating image.

It winked out and Yani stared at the three panther cubs still running ahead of her. Several yards ahead of them, next to the riverbank sat three serene-looking River Tribe women on a rug in a circle. They're eyes were closed tight as if in a deep meditation session and they stood up the moment Yani appeared. They all wore lavender headwraps twisted in the style of their people. Two wore sleeveless long purple and turquoise dresses and the other had short sleeves on her pale turquoise long dress. The purple rug under their feet was five feet in diameter with white swirling lines and white dots that looked like tiny stars. A lit candle floated inside a bowl filled with water at the bottom of the carpet. The flame flickered and Yani noticed that sky was the color of lilac and amethysts and that could only occur there at sunset.

"Wait…wait…this can't be. It's still morning," Yani said.

The panther cubs ran directly toward the women and before Yani could reach them, each cub ran through the bottom of each woman's dress and vanished.

"Are you real?" Yani asked.

The woman in the white dress smiled.

"Yes Queen Yani, we are very real," she said.

"Were those panther cubs…?"

The woman in the white dress stepped forward but kept her feet on the rug.

"Our apologies, kumkanikazi. I am Jabulile. That is Khanyisile, and she is Nolwazi. We had to get your attention without upsetting the king. He gave an edict that no one was to disturb you on your honeymoon, so we were unable to come to you directly. Using avatars allowed us to get close to you. We had hoped to catch you alone and draw you out here to meet us without the king becoming angry."

"Why do you need to see me?"

"The oracle requests an audience with you."

"Oracle? What oracle?"

"Nolwandle…the mother of oceans. She received an urgent message from the other side and Mama Wati has given permission to let it pass through her. You must go to Nolwandle as soon as possible. But the king must not know about this or else Bast will find out," Khanyisile said.

Yani took a step back.

"If you are afraid of Bast finding out, then are you trying to do something bad behind her back?"

Nolwazi clasped her hands together in a beseeching motion, "Kumkanikazi, the Grandmother of us all must not know about this because she does not like messages about the future reaching human ears. There is order in all divine things coming to pass, but if humans know things ahead of that time, they may disrupt the pattern she has set forth."

"I want my husband with me. I don't go anywhere alone without him by my side."

Jabulile nodded with understanding, but her eyes pleaded for Yani to heed their words.

"You must see Nolwandle, within three days. She can only be a vessel for the message that long, or else it will cause her great bodily harm and mental distress. Today will be her first day. It will be to your detriment to ignore her call. A message like this has traveled through souls to get to you, my dear queen."

Yani gestured toward the sky.

"You could be tricking me," Yani said.

All three women shook their heads.

"It would be a sin for us to trick anyone," Jabulile said, "We do not mean to frighten you, but I beg you Queen Yani. Heed our words daughter. Go to Mama Wati's statue at the mouth of Warrior Falls, past the great Manta Ray monument. Look at her face at the first light of the morning and it will show you the path to the Oracle. If you do not receive this message, the Udaku bloodline will come into jeopardy, and so will the fate of our country."

Jabulile held out her hand. Her words startled Yani and she reached out to the woman. Jabulile clasped Yani's hand and pulled her onto the beautiful rug.

"Oh God!" Yani cried out.

Her body felt like it was rushing through a powerful vortex of pure light and loud sounds that rattled her eardrums. After a few seconds she saw the figure of a dark-skinned woman sitting crossed-legged with a crackling fire in front of her. The woman's eyes rose from the flickering flames and stared right through Yani.

"Come daughter…Mama Wati protects you here…come Black mermaid…I have a message for you…come quickly…"

Yani's body whipped back at an angle and it felt like she was about to do a backflip or split in half trying to do so.

"Easy kumkanikazi, you are here with us again," Jabulile said, still holding Yani's hands.

Yani stumbled back off of the rug. The women stepped off of it too, and Jabulile rolled it up.

"Find your way to her…your bloodline is in danger if you don't," Jabulile said. "Go to Mama Wati's statue. Let her show you the way."

The women lowered their heads to Yani and walked toward a canoe waiting for them halfway out of the water. The tucked the rug inside and each woman climbed inside quietly with Jabulile in the center. The other two women paddled them downriver.

Yani watched them and caught her breath.

"Yani!"

Yani whipped her head around toward N'Jadaka's voice and it was morning once more. She checked her kimoyo beads. It was the same time as when she had first spotted the panther cubs. Glancing around, she was back at the mini waterfall with flowers still clasped in her fingers.

Her husband smiled and walked toward her.

"Ready to leave?" he said.

He held out his hand and she threaded her fingers with his, her body trembling.

"You okay, Yani?"

"It's just a little chillier in the shade. That rainy weather must be on the way," she said.

"Don't matter, we'll be snuggled up and floating in blissful waters."

Yani walked out of Ekuqaleni trying to figure out a way to go to Warrior Falls sooner without raising any suspicions in her husband. The weight of something extraordinary depended on her carrying it in secrecy. That was something she promised N'Jadaka she would never have with him. Secrets.

"Onward, " he said, and Yani stayed by his side.

Chapter 10 HERE.

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#King Killmonger #King Killmonger The Golden Jaguar #Black Panther Fanfiction #Wakanda Forever #Killmonger Fanfiction #Uzumaki Rebellion Writes #Uzumaki Rebellion #Namor

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jnkgrnde · 2 years ago

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— low

parings : shuri x black!fem!reader

warnings : a little bit of smut near the end 🤭🤭

summary : quick drabble about you and shuri fucking on the low. based off of ‘low’ by sza (stream sos). a good bit of this is inspired by a fic i read!

got another side of me, i like to get it poppin’,

you were a well known model in wakanda. your face was plastered in magazines, billboards, you name it, so of course queen shuri would know of you. even before that, she’d known you.

you’d gotten to know each other over the years, and eventually you just couldn’t take it anymore — the too-needy looks you gave each other, the lingering touches that kept you up at night and eventually had you touching yourself..

shuri surprisingly agreed with you; a night in that was supposed to be nothing but movies turned into you grinding down on her lap while you kissed with such need to it ending with you both covered in a sheen of sweat in her silk woven sheets, panting like you’d ran a marathon.

shuri never thought that you, out of all people, would act the way you did in bed — like you’d experience the things you did before. you seemed so sweet and kind when she first met you, a blinding smile on your face while you shook her hand.

it shocked her to say the least.

but these bitches in my business got me here choosin’ violence.

one of the downsides of hooking up with shuri was that you couldn’t just come out and say you and her were fucking. also, a lot of the women in wakanda had feelings for her.

you knew that before this whole thing but you didn’t think it was bad enough that a girl would try arguing and jumping you at a party.

you were all dolled up, lip gloss coating your lips and making them shine and oh-so kissable, hair down. you were wearing a deep purple dress that almost reached the floor. it hugged you in all the right places and had a large slit that showed off your toned thigh, a pair of heels to match.

shuri couldn’t take her eyes off you the whole night. she considered taking you right then and there.

she was getting handsy and it only furthered when you danced. your eyes were clouded as you admired her in her suit.

she knew exactly what she was doing to you.

although, apparently a woman who had a crush on her wanted to be in your place.

“excuse me?” you heard a snarky voice ask. you turned around and immediately felt the mood ruined. despite the girls rude stare, you chose to be polite. “yes?” “do you know the queen? why are you all up on her?” she started throwing out of place questions and it started drawing attention, including the dora’s. you looked at shuri with a confused look before looking back at the girl.

“is there a problem with me dancing with her?” you questioned, starting to get annoyed. “no, you’re just dancing like you know her.”

“i do know her so i don’t see what the problem is.” the dora milaje started walking over to help assess the situation. okoye stepped in front of you before you said something you would regret. “step away.” the girl scoffed before stomping away in anger. the crowd slowly started to turn away, now dispersing into whispers of the scene or the conversations they had before.

you sighed and decided to step out the building for air.

if you see me out in public you don’t know me, keep it silent.

the night after that situation, you both agreed upon not being seen with each other in public unless absolutely necessary.

nights you were at the club were spent throwing dark glances at each other, yearning for her touch and her hands on you. you watched with a burning feeling in your stomach when she danced with other people, but you knew better than to break your promise.

in the bedroom i be screamin’, but outside i keep it quiet.

now, here you were bent over on shuri’s strap, loud moans leaving you. “you close, usana?” “yes- fuck, shuri, please-“ she grinded her hips deep into you, leaving sweet kisses down your body. “so close, so close-“ you whined, head dropping to the fluffy pillow below you. “cum for me, my love.”

the next day, you had photoshoot with her for a magazine. every time you looked at her and made eye contact, you blushed thinking of the events from the night before.

all you had to do was keep quiet.

#black panther #black panther wakanda forever #shuri x fem!reader #shuri x reader #shuri black panther #shuri imagine #shuri udaku × reader #shuri udaku

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mickimomo · 2 years ago

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Attuma with the babies - part 1

Listen. I just know Attuma is an extremely involved and supportive husband when it comes to raising his and Okoye's kids.

So just come with me as I write out a few thoughts.

This is based in The Sun & The Sky AU. 💓

My thoughts:

The first time Attuma held the twins, he cried. They were so small and precious. From the moment he saw them, he knew that he'd destroy any and every threat that dared to trouble them. Okoye was given many soft kisses and praises for bringing their kids into the world too. Gentle massages, careful assistance with bathing, and homemade meals. You know, all the good stuff. Anything to help her as she healed and rested. Gotta make sure his sun is shining too. 😌

Anytime their babies would cry, he'd sprint to the scene to hold them and soothe them. Okoye is often impressed by how in tune he is with the twins. Sometimes it seems like he's able to sense their distress before they make an audible cry. Even in the midst of his slumber, he'll wake up and go check on their two bundles of joy.

Whenever Okoye has to breastfeed them, he's there helping and being supportive. Whether he's rubbing her back. Holding her so that she's able to rest in his arms. Or feeding her because she's a bit hungry and her arms are full. He read a lot of books while she was pregnant, so he's constantly rubbing her down with salves he read about to make sure she's never sore after breastfeeding and that she's eating properly to keep producing milk.

And as Okoye begins to observe the changes to her body, postpartum, Attuma is always boosting her head up. She doesn't even get a chance to think any less of herself. He's always praising her, drowning her in love, and gifting her things so that she knows she's just as special as their babies. He'll take care of the kids, so that she can go train a little or have some alone time. He'll even plan little picnic dates for them in the living room, while the twins are sleeping, so the romance stays alive. 🥺 He'll bring her home flowers and a baked treat, every time he comes home from patrolling. Eager to relieve her of any stress, she may be feeling from taking care of the twins all day by herself.

Whenever Okoye is napping, he's always walking around with the babies wrapped securely to his torso. Ever since Aneka showed him how to wrap the babies securely and wear them- he saw it while out and wished to learn- he does it as often as he can. He's a proud father. The twins are his pride and the fruits of his love. Why wouldn't he keep them close?

Everyone finds it cute. Such a large and intimidating man wearing two little babies.

Yes, Aneka and Namora take pictures and send them to Okoye. Shuri has been working on building a super cool stroller to earn the title of Auntie of the Year. It's a hard competition with RiRi in the lab. To their dismay, Oni manages to one up them by giving Attuma more patterned wraps made with a longer and stretchier cloth. (Attuma will carry his babies until they are 4. And even then. He'd just move on to piggyback rides. 😭 He feels that they are safer when they are close. 🥺 But he has to get more creative as he and Okoye's family grows. Imagine him with 12 kids wrapped around him. 💀 Jk. 12 kids is my running joke. It does not have to be canon.)

"Man- I know we didn't just get one upped by a piece of fabric." RiRi scowled as Oni and Attuma talked.

Namora was proud of her wife, shooting a small glare at RiRi. "You did. Accept it."

"Those praises do not fall on you. You're just as crappy of an aunt as us." RiRi huffed before laughing when Namora gently nudged her and rolled her eyes.

"He's a simple man." Shuri groaned. "I should have listened to K'uk'ulkan."

"He'll come around." Aneka gently pet them on the back. "You're crazy if you think he's only having two kids with udade. Your inventions will come in handy eventually."

"She is right." Namora hummed. "We all aspire to have big families."

The funny thing about Attuma wearing the twins is that they are so small that they're both able to be strapped to the front of his chest. As they get older, the less chaotic of the twins get to chill in the front. (They don't try to grab ingredients or kick things while he'd cooking. Safety first people.) It's okay. He often gives his toddler on his back pieces of cut fruit to keep their spirits lifted and help them feel involved.

Okoye is always amused to see him talking to the twins while cooking and running errands, even though they're tiny and unable to process what he's saying.

"We are making K'iin food. K'iin means sun." He whispered. "K'iin is your mother. Na' is how you say mother." He'd remind them. "We must make sure she stays bright and healthy." He'd say as he chopped up some ingredients. "So we are making her soup to help her heal, because having two babies took a toll on her. She needs lots of food and rest so that she can continue to be the best mother she already is to both of you." He smiled behind his rebreather. "We will start by cutting up these carrots-"

"Ah." One of the babies would sound out.

"-Yes." He'd grin before pressing a soft kiss into the infant's head. "And we'll add onions, peppers, and chicken. Na' like corn, so we have to add it too."

Sometimes he'll sing to them in mayan. It's not a tune that's laced with strong suggestions like the one he'd drown his enemies with. It's often a song his mother would hum to him when he was small. Something he was happy to pass down to his own children.

And that concludes Part 1. ♡

p.s. I feel like the first set of twins would be identical boys. And they'd end up being mama boys (in a healthy way), because Attuma raised them to respect women. 😤 So, yeah.

#mickimomo #okoye x attuma #attoye #attuma x okoye #attuma #okoye #onimora #riri and shuri are competitive af #aneka being the best sister-in-law she can be #attuma being a good dad and husband #the sun and the sky au

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omgsuperstarg · 2 years ago

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Take to the Sky

Namor x Udaku! Reader

Author's Note: Hey Guys!!! This is finna be my first foray into the Black Panther Universe. I saw Wakanda Forever last Thursday and it was a THRILL RIDE. As with most writers, I got inspired to write my first one-shot based on the movie with Reader chan and everyone's fave agua DADDY NAMOR so let's see how your story unfolds.

Also, I used a translator for the Yucatec Mayan so if it's off. Tell me in the comments

As I offered you to BAST when you were just a little babe, the winds around us blew wildly. Suddenly you were lifted from my arms. The elders were in surprise but the shaman was not surprised for he saw in you a greater purpose as well as a great danger which you are the key to stopping...............

That was your favourite story growing up, the one of your birth. The Ukadu's are Wakanda's Royal family and the guardians of the Black Panther mantle for generations but with you it was special. Your birth was of significance since it was not Bast who visited but the wind goddess who blessed you with bird wings to soar above the clouds. Yet with this power came a great danger which was unknown. Ever since then, you were hidden. Coming out when deemed necessary as well as acquiring the best training necessary from Okoye and the rest of the Dora.

Life for the most part was peaceful, loving and full of happiness for your family and people but it was not meant to last. The last six years being the most painful for your loved ones. Losing your father along with your siblings forced you to conform to the duties of becoming a future leader rapidly. Though you didn't need to inherit the throne for a good while, Queen Ramonda needed the assistance to best lead Wakanda during its turbulence as well as lifting some of the burdens from her shoulders. Not long after the blip's reversal, T'Challa's health deteriorated and eventually, he succumbed and joined the ancestors. Holding your mother's hand with eyes bloodshot red staring off into space, it felt as if your body went numb. The emotions depart with your brother until a hollow husk was left. It was always the 3 musketeers but now it's down to two. You knew it was never truly the end only its beginning.

ONE YEAR LATER............................................................

The sky was a place where you found solace. The impossible fades away and the unknown reigns supreme. Today is the One year anniversary of T'Challa's passing and mother wanted us to take a day to pay homage to his spirit as well as finally put our grief behind us but you couldn't shake the feeling in your bones that something is to occur today and you prayed to Bast that it's not serious.

Mini time skip

You all were sitting by the river's edge, a fire roaring to keep warm as well as a family of elephants to keep companionship with.

"Come girls, we are going to enact the final piece of the grieving ritual", Queen mother states as she surrenders her white garb to the fire, its heat and flames consuming it.

"Buring of the garbs marks the end of the grieving process and how we fully connect with those who have passed on to the spiritual plane.", she says solemnly.

"I can't do that. If I think of my brother too long it's not those clothes I would burn, but the world.", Shuri responds. You can feel where she comes from with being gifted a brilliant mind but unable to save whom she loves most.

Suddenly the elephants sense a disturbance and the Queen Mother goes to investigate with a spear in tow along with your sister. You grab your sword ready to defend your family and that's when a human or what you can describe as human for this male has wings at his ankles that play off of the Greek Messenger God Hermes as well as adorned with many jewels and clothing which also gives off remnants of a lost period of history.

'Who are you!", Your mother interrogates the stranger.

"This place is amazing, the air is pristine. My mother told me stories of a place like this, with people who never had to leave or change who they were. What right did your son have to reveal yourselves to the rest of the world," He says almost deathly calm.

"I'm not a woman who likes repeating herself, WHO.ARE.YOU", your queen mother says with authority.

"I have many names. My people me K'Kul'kan, but my enemies call me NAMOR.'' he says finally revealing who he is.

After laying his case, or more on the lines of his demands for the American Scientist who engineered the Vibranium detector he proceeds to leave but not before he speaks once more,

"To'on yaan k suut kaxtik chan ch'íich' '' and with that, he dolphin dives into the water once more.

"Well that's an entrance,", you say but gasp in horror as your eyes gaze on the underwater machine beside the mini camp setup.

"The council must be alerted immediately", Ramonda says urgently

Meanwhile in Talokan..............................

''Le chan ch'íich'o' ts'o'ok u revelado. Yuumtsilo'ob finalmente in u séen revelado ka sabrá u propósito yéetel le k'iin.'', Namor says while continuing his ancient painting.

#namor x reader #wakanda forever #tenoch huerta x reader #mutant #kkulkan x reader #one shot #short stories #namor x poc!reader #shuri #black panther

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chottopoco · 2 years ago

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This has been simmering in my brain for too long since I rewatched The Hitman's Bodyguard and The Hitman's Bodyguard's Wife recently:

Mobster wife!Okoye & Lieutenant!Attuma and Mob Head!W'Kabi heads up the whole thing; Okoye is the trophy wife and W'Kabi constantly underestimates her, just has her around for show, but Attuma notices, they start banging and eventually stage a coup and they are fucking vicious, their culmination and solidifying of power is a brutal, bloody thing and no one dares to cross them in the end. She gets a name like Songbird or some shit like that. And it becomes know that is she sings a song at you in a meeting, well, that's it, you're dead courtesy of Attuma."

Like, the dead dove potential... *chef kiss*

I got enough on my plate, someone bring this to life.

#attuma x okoye #okoye x attuma #attoye #attuma #okoye

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unknownpisces002 · 2 years ago

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Bleed me dry, Make me blue ( Part 2.)

" There was a woman, born from a lotus. Her heart was golden, deep as the ocean. And then this one man, he came and broke it. Until it was open, just like a lotus. Oh yes, there were explosions. She found her focus, the beast awoken."

Shuri Udaku x Reader.

Summary

A weeks time has passed, since you met with the Princess. And had been told of your new upcoming task from K'uk'ulkan. Which consisted of you convincing Shuri into joining him, so that the Talokanil's and Wakandan's? Could go to war together with the surface world.

But of course? Things take a turn. And as you lurk underneath the Wakandan waters, alongside Namora, Attuma, K'uk'ulkan, and other soldiers who are prepared to fight? You can't help but feel a bit frantic and guilty? For being present in a place where you hadn't been formally invited to.

And as the soldiers emerge from the waters and begin to attack? You occupy yourself by doing what you were sent here to do. Despite the fact that you were against it? You allowed your feet to lead you into the direction of the palace. Where eventually? You're captured after being spotted by a Dora Milaje soldier, who was guarding the entrance way.

Which causes you to be imprisoned in a cell, that honestly? You saw coming sooner or later. Being that K'uk'ulkan, had mentioned that this would probably happen to you. After he had disposed of the Queen, along with Riri the scientist. And as you sat feeling cold and a bit anxious about what would come next? Nothing could've prepared you more, once you were met with the presence of Shuri.

Who like K'uk'ulkan said? Wasn't all too elated or pleased? To witness you and your now blue-ish appearance? Being present inside of her home.

Word count:12.1K

Themes: friends, to lovers, to enemies, and then lovers again, angst, lots of tension, lots of fluff, reader is Talokanil but we can pretend that she's black ( when her skin isn't blue ofc) because i wasn't 100% sure if they had any black Talokanil people during the movie? shuri is bad at feelings, and has a hard time controlling her emotions because of it, shuri misses her mom a lot too, reader is also slightly bad with feelings, due to her history of being rejected and pushed away by namora & other Talokanil people her age, forbidden romance, eventual sexual content later in the series, okoye is a supportive queen and we stan her, reader is also very sensitive and easily triggered, but with time and the proper care and loving? she will get much better, slight mention and attempt of S/A, lots of tears, lots and lots of tension, flirting, and lastly lots of arguing, but in the end? things will lighten up.

Tag list: @inmyheadimobsessed @vixentheplanet @shurismainbxtch @pinkwright @ziayamikaelson @shuriszn @vampzxi @shurisvibranium @shurisconcubine @ririsbeloved @cyberdior @importantsongcloud @abenomeiiii @noidontthinkyougetit2 @saintwrld @nooshytushie @thewifeoflevi @shuriislut and as always? if anyone would like to be added to the tag list? just comment down below and i'll be more than happy to add you ❤️

Divider by: @firefly-graphics

Author's Note

hi you guy's!! 🥹 i know i've been saying tomorrow, tomorrow, tomorrow? and i never posted anything? but typing this out? took me way longer than i intended it to. and also with how good that all of you said part 1 was? i had to buckle down and really think hard on how i wanted part 2 to be, and originally? i had 8.7k words typed out, but last night i added onto what i had, and now there's 12.1k words.

so it's a very long chapter, and i really, really hope you all like it and that it's up to par lol. there's also a lot of ups and downs in this part of the series as well. so please buckle up and be prepared. because our sweet, emotional, and love deprived reader? is gonna go through a turmoil of emotions, right along with shuri.

and as i mentioned in the beginning of part one? all the inspiration i've been getting for this story? comes from one of my favorite artist, who's music is so angelic, and feels like a spiritual cleanse whenever you get to hear her voice. & this specific song in general? really just tied everything together.

but i think i've done enough rambling 😭 so let me just get on with finishing up the last of what i have to say.

before we jump into the story? lastly i'd like to say a special thank you to everyone who gave me feedback on part 1. 🥹❤️

and who left me kind words, and have all in all? just been super, super supportive. and welcoming to me, being that i'm still a newbie here, and i'm learning how to work the app and do things and make cool edits, like most of the readers i follow and love up here? have. but as we all continue to grow together and embark on this journey with shuri and the reader?

i hope it brings all of us closer and that possibly in the future? if i find inspiration to write another story, once this one is complete? that i'll hopefully get blessed with the chance to see each and every one of you there as well, whenever that day comes forth. 🥹

but now with further ado? let's get onto the story!

The fight against the Wakandan's was unplanned, unfair, and unforeseen. As the people here knew nothing about the battle coming, that was currently occurring outside. While you tried your hardest to ignore the screams, erupting from the mouths of children, their mother's, along with their father's. As you crept stealthily, up the walls on the side of the palace.

Feeling a bit anxious, seeing as you were so high up from off the ground? And far away from water. Which caused you to begin overthinking and lose focus of your task. As you imagined yourself falling against the ground, and dying from not having any oxygen. If your mask that was settled over your face? Was to break. Once you had hit the concrete, that from where you were standing currently?

Looked as if it were nothing but a small line, as the people who lived in the capital? Ran against it. With their arms outstretched, down below.

But despite your current anxiety? You continued on with climbing.

Letting out a deep breath, that you weren't aware you were holding onto. At the feel of your feet, being returned to the ground. Once you had made it to the top of the building successfully, without being spotted. By any of the soldiers, who were seen running in the opposite direction during the moment.

Before suddenly? Their focused had shifted. And they stopped in their tracks, due to the hypnotizing sound emitting from the mouths of the sirens. Who swam below in the water from which you had just came? And called out to them. Raising their voices in higher octaves, that soon? Had caused all ten of the soldiers who were just seen running towards some kind of high tech jet? To halt in their footsteps.

And go walking slowly towards the edge of the building, before they jumped off of the ledge. Plummeting down fairly quickly, until their bodies had made contact with the surface of the water, and they sunk down underneath. Disappearing into the depths of what lurked down below. Which made your breathing begin to grow unsteady, as you now came to the clear realization. That instead of Namor simply just disposing of the Queen, along with Riri the scientists?

That he was going to dispose of many other innocent people, as well as children.

As he made his way up to the palace, flying in the air–with the small wings that were attached against the sides of his ankles. Where he'd been stopped a few times on his way up, by other Dora Milaje soldiers. Who flew in jets, shooting at him the best they could–trying to strike him.

But unfortunately for them? Namor was far too agile to be struck down. Regardless of how many bullets had came flying out of the missiles, that were underneath the bottom of their jets? It was impossible for them to catch him.

And from where you were standing right now? You had a clear view of the Queen. Who stood watching everything that was happening on the ground unfold. With Riri standing not too far behind her.

As the two of them both held looks of shock, and if you weren't mistaken? A bit of fear.

When Namor had made his way near the window, where the two of them had stood behind. And the spear that he held in his right hand? Came crashing down against the surface of it. Which you were assuming that he had intentions of it breaking through successfully? But to no avail? The glass had never shattered.

And with that? Namor flew away. Shocking you and a few other Talokan soldiers, at the fact that it seemed he had given up? And that he was retreating? Which was nothing at all like him. Because in all your years of living and being under his supervision? Namor had never retreated from anything, or anyone before. Nor did he ever lie, whenever he said that he'd handle a situation.

So seeing him fly away, and dive back into the water? Had left you feeling confused on what to do next. As you stood facing towards the edge of the building, where you'd been from the very moment. That the Dora Milaje soldiers who walked towards it, due to being under the hypnosis from the sirens? Had jumped off.

Plummeting right into their death.

" Lahla isikhali sakho!" A deep voice shouted from behind you, shifting your focus away from Namor. Who had recently just re-submerged from out of the water, throwing a handful of bombs at the window. That the Queen, as well as Riri had stood behind. Before it shattered after a few seconds, and a shit load of water went rushing directly inside.

Translation: Drop your weapon.

Knocking the both of their bodies completely out of view, from being seen anymore. As you felt your wrist begin to get grabbed on from behind you, fairly rough. Just as the spear you once held? Was sent clattering against the ground. When you were yanked backwards and spun around, so you'd be facing away from the edge–in the way that you had been before being put into cuffs.

That had felt a bit tight, and as if they were starting to constrict your blood flow? But despite your attempt to ask the guard who was leading you, to loosen them up? You were already being shoved into the entrance of the palace, as she eyed you closely. Keeping her spear pointed at the middle part of your back.

As the two of you began walking down a set of stairs, which eventually led you into what looked like a cave, that was similar to the one back in Talokan. Except that the one here? Didn't have as many lights, in the way that the one back home did.

" Sit." Getting nudged in your back once more with the guards spear, you followed her orders and did as told. Feeling a sigh of relief escape from your lips, after she removed the tight cuffs from being against your wrist. Which had allowed your circulation to return back to normal, as you sat with your hands inside your lap.

Beginning to slowly start to observe the cell in which you were in now. With your head turning towards the right, as you squinted your eyes just a bit. Trying to make out what the writing that was engraved into the walls had read. Seeing that now, as your vision had focused fully and adjusted to the darkness?

That there was writing written all around you, in some sort of foreign language. Which after a while? You assumed was most likely Wakandan. Once it began glowing a light shade of blue, like the bracelet that Shuri had worn back in Talokan? Had done.

" Excuse me?" You spoke aloud, returning your gaze back to the guard. Who stood with her shoulders upright, while eyeing you closely with a stern expression present. " Is there any chance, that I could speak with the Prince–"

Mid way through speaking, you were cut off by another deep, yet somewhat light voice. As another Dora Milaje soldier approached the guard who was watching you. With a face full of terror, along with having tear stained cheeks. As she took a quick glance at you, while you sat criss crossed against the floor.

Before she shifted her focus back towards the other soldier.

Muttering out a few words that you weren't really able to make out. Being that she was currently speaking in Wakandan. Which made it hard for you to try and decipher what you assumed, that she might've been saying? But when the guard who had cuffed you, dropped her spear. And a choked out sob had escaped from the back part of her throat?

You knew right away, that they were discussing the Queen. And the explosion that had just occurred? From Namor. And him throwing the bombs he threw at the window. That had caused loads of water to break through it, and go flowing inside of the room that Riri, and the Queen had been inside of.

" Ukumkanikazi ufile." The guard who approached the cell, mumbled incoherently. Placing her hand against the other woman's shoulder, as a way to comfort her, and get her cries to come to a stop.

Translation: The Queen is dead.

" Ukumkanikazi ufile, yaye inkokeli yayo yiyo ebangele ukumbulala!" Her finger came pointing over in your direction, as you furrowed your brows out of confusion.

" I'm sorry?" You spoke lowly, but loud enough for the two of them to hear you.

Translation: The Queen is dead, and her leader is the one responsible for killing her.

" Sorry!?" The guard who'd brung you down to the cell, let out a bitter chuckle. Snapping her head around quickly, as she began to glare at you. With both her hands holding onto the bars of the cell, so tightly? That the veins in her knuckles were beginning to protrude.

" Our Queen? Is dead!" She shouted at you so loudly, that the sound of her voice continued to echo throughout the hallway. After she had closed her mouth, and faced away from you.

As you sat feeling all of the guilt, that had been building throughout your body during the last seven days? Come bubbling up to the surface. Just as you let out a sob yourself, and placed your hands over your mouth, to cover it afterwards. So that another one wouldn't be able to escape from out of it.

While you sat beginning to cry, with a quivering bottom lip. Trying your hardest to come to terms with what you were being told. " S-she's what?" You questioned her, once more. Barely speaking above a whisper, with your eyes widening in shock. After she'd repeated herself, a third time.

" Our Queen, is dead." She muttered lowly, after rising back up from off the ground. Holding onto her spear tightly, inside the palm of her left hand. " She's dead."

" And your leader, with the wings upon his feet? Is the person who's responsible for killing her!"

If you had known that your presence would cause so much confusion? Then you would have tried to reason with Namor, and beg him to allow you to remain in Tolakan.

Where you'd probably be roaming around somewhere right now? While trying hardly not to make anymore mistakes. Or like any other day? You'd be following Namora around, as if you were her shadow? Along with studying everything she did, or said? So you could be as gifted and treasured as she was.

Had you remained there? Instead of coming up to the surface.

And following orders from a leader, who could honestly care less if you had felt pity for the people around you or not? Nor did he care if you cried, or pleaded with him to spare the lives of Riri and the Queen. So that they could live their lives freely and happily? Instead of being nothing but a distinct memory.

That in one point of time? Used to be a walking, living, talking, breathing soul. Who had hopes and dreams, of being whatever it was that they wanted to be in life. So as you sat feeling guilty, as if you were the one who'd killed the Queen, instead of Namor? You prayed up above to the God's.

Asking them to rid you of the ongoing pain, in which you currently felt. As well as also asking, if they could allow you to be gifted. And more like Namora, like Namor had asked you to be. Because being unable to do anything correctly? Was beginning to grow a bit tiring.

And you felt as if sooner or later? That you'd be pushed to the breaking point, that you had promised yourself, as well as the God's? That you wouldn't get to.

" Y/N?" The sound of Riri's voice, had knocked you from out of your thoughts. As you found yourself rising up to your feet fairly quick, with glossy eyes, and hands that wouldn't quit shaking. Seeing that the smaller girl, was alive. And not dead, as you presumed that she'd be? After Namor, had went through all of this trouble, just to get rid of her?

Due to her building a machine, that in her mind? Was just a simple school project, for her Metallurgy class. " R-riri?" You reached your hands out of the cell, cupping both her cheeks as soon as she was close enough for you to do so. Which had taken her by surprise, and caused her eyes to widen.

But after a while? Her facial expression returned back to normal. Making you feel so much more at ease, when she held onto your hands. And smiled warmly at you, before in an instant? The expression had shifted. And nothing else but sadness, was evident inside of her dark brown, slightly slanted shaped eyes.

" T-the Queen, is umm.." She trailed off, after releasing your hands. " The Queen is dead."

" And N-namo–"

" And the fish man killed her!" A large man who stood behind her, cut her sentence short. Making his presence be known, as he stepped forward. Emerging from out of the darkness of the hall, with the same expression present on his features. That both the guards who stood outside your cell earlier? Had present on theirs.

" And I believe that, you!?" He pointed his finger in your direction. " I believe that you might've had something to do with it!"

" Me!?" You jerked your head back, at his ridiculously stupid statement. Feeling offended and if you were being honest? Quite a bit hurt. That he would think that someone like you, who was almost as tiny as Riri, and clearly incapable of completing a task? Could've done something of the sort.

" Yes, I believe you helped him." He carried on with talking, and stating his preposterous beliefs. " Because if you didn't have anything to do with it? Then enlighten me on why you are here?" His brows raised, as he awaited your response.

" Surely, it can't be because you had good intentions? Because you and your kind? Have made it completely clear? That we are not equals. Despite the fact that we each own vibranium? Which, way before we ever knew of sea people ever existing? We were certain, that we were the only ones who owned it."

" So please?" His eyes bored directly into your black ones. " Tell us why you're really here."

" And what is that you want, with the Princess?"

" To see her." You spit out quickly, feeling your heart rate begin to accelerate, at the mention of Shuri. " I'd like to see her. And speak with her alone, please."

" What for?" Riri questioned, mirroring the man's current expression. " And why now? After her mother was just murdered, right in front of her."

" What?" You felt a lump start to form inside of your throat, as you stood trying to even out your breathing. Along with your wobbling knees, that felt as if they were on the verge of giving out on you. " H-he wouldn't." You laughed bitterly, blinking back the tears that were threatening to spill over.

" Namor, would never do that."

" Oh yeah? And why wouldn't he, Y/N!?" Riri shouting at you unexpectedly? Had caught you completely off guard. Seeing the way that she did it a second time, when you had ignored her previous question, and just stood completely still.

Allowing the tears you fought to keep back? To fall freely. As the breaking point that you tried so hardly to run away from? Had finally caught up to you. And slithered around your neck as if it were a snake? As it blocked off your ability to speak, like you so desperately wanted to.

So that you could try to prove your innocence, and voice your reasoning for saying what you said about Namor. But all the attempts you made to speak? Had failed. And nothing except soft cries escaping from out of your mouth? Could be heard, by the two individuals who stood before you.

Looking as if they were unfazed, and more angry than they had been prior. Which in all honesty? You expected. Being that their Queen had just been murdered, and taken away from them. While Riri on the other hand? Had almost been drowned to death, as you were now able to make out the wet clothes she wore, that were almost dry? Being stuck against her small frame.

" It seems to me? That you don't have an answer for me, Y/N." Riri continued speaking, ignoring your sobs as if they were inaudible to her. " And I see now?" Stepping back from the cell, near the area where the tall man who'd been talking previously, stood? Riri let out a bitter chuckle, shaking her head side to side.

With both her hands balled into fist. " I see now, that you and I? Could never be friends, in the way that I expected us to be."

" And also?" Pausing in her footsteps as she walked away, Riri took a final glance at you. Allowing you to be met with with the sight of her crying, which had shocked you completely.

Being that you'd never taken her for the type of person, who'd allow herself to be vulnerable around others. " Shuri, really believed that you were different."

" And she was so excited, after you left from introducing yourself to the two us. Back when we were in Talokan, last week? Because she figured that she had made a friend. And you know with her being a Princess and all? She doesn't really get to have a lot of those. Other than her being kind of close with some of the soldiers here? She has, no one."

" I-i am different!" You interjected, shouting just a bit. " Nah." Riri chuckled once more, waving her finger around in the air. " You aren't different at all, Y/N."

" And you wanna know why that is?" She raised her eyebrow questioningly, while you stood frowning at her angrily, with ragged breathing, and bloodshot eyes. " ..Why?.." You found yourself asking, despite the fact you told yourself you wouldn't.

" Because you're just like everyone else, who uses innocent people. And makes them believe that the intentions you have are good, when really?" Her head tilted slightly towards the side.

" Really? You're just as fucked up as Namor. And to top that off? You're exactly like him too."

" I am nothing like, Namor!" Raising your voice so loudly, that your throat began to hurt directly after doing it? You banged your fist against the walls. Not caring about how the stinging sensation that began lingering had felt? Once the barrier of your skin had broken.

And your knuckles had started to bleed. " I'm nothing like him!" You protested once more, attesting your innocence. " Oh? But you are." The man who stood beside Riri, spoke aloud.

" And the Princess, will not be speaking with you, or seeing you. For she is planning, so she can prepare to bury her Mother. Who your leader, who is the fish man? Killed."

" So, please? Do enjoy your stay here–in this..dark and cold cell." He trailed off, pointing his finger over at the small circular shaped window. That was high above the small cot, located over in the left side of the room.

" And if you find yourself growing weary, and in need of entertainment? Then look out into that window over there? And imagine yourself being free. Like you could have been now? Had you not assisted your fish man leader? With murdering our Queen!"

After the heated discussion you had with Riri, and the tall man, who for some odd reason? Made sounds as if he were a dog, after every sentence he finished? You were left alone again. With a mindful of thoughts, as well as having a heart that felt heavy. When you imagined how Shuri might've been feeling right now? While also wondering what she might've been doing at the moment?

As you sat picking with the mask that was over your mouth. Feeling conflicted, and of course? Tremendously guilty. Knowing that Riri, the man who'd been present with her, and possibly Shuri? Were all convinced that you had assisted Namor, with his plans of killing the Queen.

Which had hurt you, and made you start to question if those assumptions might've been true? Due to your tendency of being blamed for so many mistakes in your life, by Namora, and other Talokanil people. Who spoke down on your capability, of ever being great so much? That at a time like this? Your intrusive thoughts were beginning to get the upper hand.

As you found yourself ripping off the headgear you wore, and launching it at the bars of the cell. Which made a loud banging sound, begin bouncing off the walls of the room. Following muffled sobs and loud sniffles, along with the sound of you beginning to choke on air.

When you removed the mask that was once over your face? And allowed it to drop on the ground. As you kicked it away from being near you, after removing it successfully. Before your body had fell backwards against the cool, cement floor. And your light blue skin? Had began darkening instantly. Upon you not having on your mask, or being close by water, like you'd normally be?

When you'd remove it to give your face a break? Back when you were home, in Talokan.

So as you laid with your hands against your throat, with wide eyes, and a rapidly beating heart? You prayed to the God's, for what felt like the millionth time. As you asked them to guide you peacefully to your ancestors, who had perished away–far before you were born.

But unfortunately for you? The moment of death you'd been awaiting? Had never came.

And before you knew it? Your shoulders were being lifted, as the feel of soft, warm hands? Had begun shaking your body lightly, while the voice of whoever the hands belonged to? Murmured lots of incoherent words, that you couldn't really make out. Once your mask had been placed back over your face, and your eyes shot open on instinct.

When you were finally able to breathe regularly again. " Breathe." The sound of Shuri's voice had made you pause your movements, and shoot your eyes up in her direction. When her hands had remained on your face, and she didn't move them away–like you expected she'd do?

After everything that had recently occurred, today.

" S-shuri?" You whispered quietly, staring at her as if she were a ghost. Because your mind wouldn't allow you to believe, that she was standing here in front of you right now. And let alone? Touching you.

When the tall man from earlier, had made it one hundred percent clear? That she wouldn't be speaking with you, or seeing you. Due to her being busy, with planning for her Mother's funeral.

" You tried killing yourself? Why?" Her brows raised in confusion.

" I-i don't know what you're talking about." You stammered over your words, playing dumb. Scooting yourself farther away from her, once she rose to her feet. And had begun pacing around your body. While watching you intently, as if she were trying to read you? As she did so.

" You are lying." She responded after a while. " In the same way that you had done? When we were in Talokan."

" Lying?" You repeated her, with a voice full of confusion. " I've lied to you about nothing before, Shuri."

" Oh, ingelosi? But you have." Stopping in her tracks after she was behind you, Shuri motioned for you to stand. Which caused you to scramble up to your feet with quickness, and approach her slowly. As you found yourself growing eager, for some unknown reason? To be close to her.

Translation: Angel.

" Y-yes, Shuri?" Staring up at her tall frame, you then placed your hands behind your back nervously. As her eyes began to linger from your face, down to the gills. That were located against the area underneath your shoulders, near the center of your chest.

" Why have you come here?" Her voice had dropped. " And what is it that you want?" Moving once more, after standing completely still? Shuri began to approach you, which made your stomach go into knots, out of being afraid.

As you inched backwards, the more she stepped forward coming towards you. Until eventually? You'd been cornered, in between the area where the cot-like bed, and window were located. Feeling your body slightly flinch, just as you squeezed your eyes shut tightly. When Shuri's fist, had came crashing down against the wall behind you.

That wasn't so far away from where your head had been. Which made you begin questioning yourself, instantly. As you wondered had she wanted to hit you instead? And not the wall, that began glowing in the same way, it had done earlier? Due to her touch.

" Ndiphendule!" The sound of Shuri's voice cracking, after she hollered at you? Left you feeling a bit unsteady, along with being emotional. When the urge to cry, had suddenly come over you, again. For what felt like the hundredth time today.

Translation: Answer me.

At the sight of tears, that had begun rushing down the sides of Shuri's sepia, reddish-brown skin, nonstop.

" I wanted to see yo–"

" Bullshit!" Shuri punched her fist against the wall, a second time. Making you move away from being so close to where she was. Or at least? You tried to. But the feel of her hands holding you in place, and restraining you from going anywhere?

Had shaken you to the core, due to the unexpected contact.

" It's the truth, Shuri." You tried getting her to believe you, as you reached out your hands. To try and wipe her face free of the tears, that had continued to spew down her slightly puffed out cheeks.

" I wanted to see you." You said again, speaking way softer this time. As Shuri stood saying nothing, with her eyes being locked onto the floor. " And I'm sorry about your Moth–"

" Sorry?" Her eyes were back on you now, allowing you to see that her face was completely frowned up. " Y-yes." You nodded hesitantly, once she let go of the previous grip she had on you.

And she took a step back, running her hands throughout her short curled hair. Just as a loud laugh had escaped her lips, following a choked out sob. That honestly? Made you want to begin crying yourself. At the sight of her being so upset, and in rage. In a way? That you would have never expected her to be in, if it were still last week?

When the two of you were just meeting for the first time. And she was surprisingly happy and quite friendly? For someone who'd been brought to a completely different world, from the one that she was used to.

" My Mother is dead, Y/N." Shuri spoke slowly, after her breathing had returned to normal.

" She is, dead! And Namor, Is the one who's responsible? For taking her away from me!"

" So, please? Please keep your pity and half apologies? To yourself." She pushed her finger into the center of your chest, causing you to stumble backwards a bit, from how hardly she had done it. " S-shur–"

" No!" Her hand raised up, cutting your sentence short. As you struggled to blink back your tears, and keep your feelings at bay. So that you wouldn't get offended by how mean she was currently being. But in a way? You felt that you deserved this.

Because had you tried being useful for once in your life? And you stood your ground? Instead of being afraid, to call others out on their wrongdoings? Then maybe Shuri's Mother would be alive right now. And she'd be happy, rather than being in distraught, as well as angry?

As she stood before you, with her finger remaining against your chest. Looking as if she was disgusted with your presence, in the same way that Namora would look? Whenever the realization of you being her sister? Had settled inside of her brain.

" ..Please.." Feeling your bottom lip begin to quiver, you tucked it behind your teeth with quickness. " Please don't be angry with me, Shuri." You pleaded with her.

" In puksi'ik'al ma' ma' táan manejar tu." You reached for her hands, leaning your head towards the side, so she'd be able to see you. Being that she was avoiding your gaze, as well as your touch. Once she snatched her hands from out of your grasp, and her head shook side to side reluctantly.

Translation: My heart won't be able to handle it.

" I have nothing for you." Her statement had made your shoulders slump down in defeat. And caused you to draw out a deep sigh, when the tears you were trying to keep away? Had begun to fall. When Shuri turned around, putting her back towards you. And she began walking back near the entrance of the cell.

" Nothing!" She added onto her previous statement, raising her voice.

" So, please? Save your tears and lies? For someone who'll believe them."

" Because I have nothing for you! Or nothing to say or give to you? Of that matter." She made herself completely clear, as she talked with a voice, that was laced with anger.

" And I've had enough of you staring at me! With that look inside of your eyes." Pausing from opening up the cell, Shuri glanced over her shoulder at you. With furrowed up eyebrows, and lips that were twisted upwards, showcasing her evident distaste. From whatever look in your eyes? That she was referring to.

" What look?" You questioned, blinking your eyes once, and then twice.

" That look." She pointed at you, as she swallowed hardly. Looking as if she were trying to contain herself, from losing the last bit of self control she had. " ..S-stop looking at me.."

" I have to look at you? In order to talk to you, Shur–"

" STOP!" Being yelled at by Shuri, for what felt like the thousandth time? Made you break. And caused you to begin boiling over with your own anger, as you found yourself shouting back at her, way louder than she had done to you.

Which had taken her by surprise, and made her breathing still for a few moments? At the sight of you being so enraged. And yet? So beautiful, at the same time. But of course? She'd never admit to that. Because the ongoing feelings she'd felt right about now? Had confused her.

And made her feel as if she were a traitor? For finding a person who's ruler, was responsible for her Mother's death? Intriguing. And worst of all? Attractive.

" Are you finished?" Shuri broke the awkward silence that had settled over the two of you, once your shouting had come to a cease. "Because if you are? Then listen to me closely."

" Because I've never been a woman? Who liked repeating herself."

" You don't say?" You responded sarcastically, after sitting down against the edge of the cot, with your arms folded tightly over your chest. "Stop it." She warned you, but you continued on with your sarcastic remarks anyway, not caring about if they had bothered her or not.

Seeing as she didn't care, that her yelling she had done earlier? Had hurt you. When she did it continuously, without having any ounce of remorse.

" I take it that, blue must not be one of your favorite colors either, Princess?"

" Or is it just me, that you hate so much? Since you didn't shout at Namor, today? In the way that you've been shouting at m–"

" Y/N, I'm warning yo–" Shuri tried to speak, but you continued to speak over her.

" Maybe I should've just did what I was told? And used my siren abilities to manipulate you? Like Namor, told me to do. And maybe if I had done that? Then you probably would have been a bit more nicer towards me? Instead of being angry. Which just to clarify? You should consider other people's feelings? Before blaming them for thing's th–"

Due to you being so caught up in your rant? You hadn't noticed that Shuri had started to approach you. And as you were mid way through finishing up? You had been pinned down to the cot below you. As the front of your top, had been grabbed up and twisted.

When Shuri's tall frame had begun towering over you. And nothing except disbelief, anger, and if you weren't mistaken? Hurt, were evident inside of her dark brown eyes.

" N-namor sent you here, to try and manipulate me?" The grip Shuri had on your top tightened. When it took you a while to respond back to her. Due to you currently being occupied with staring at her face, that was only just a few centimeters away from where your's was.

Which allowed you to make out how sharp her jawline actually was? And how when she was angry, like she was currently? And she clenched her teeth together tightly? That it popped out even more. Making you part your lips, to speak, before you stopped yourself.

Once the realization of the position the two of you were in? Came crashing into your mind. Causing you to push yourself into Shuri's hands, involuntarily. And grab hold of both her wrist, as you rubbed your thumbs in small circles, caressing the surface of her skin there.

Feeling your body begin to heat up shortly after, and a small smile start to tug at the corners of your lips. When the sound of Shuri inhaling and exhaling deeply, upon having you touch her? Had filled your ears.

" I would never manipulate you, Shuri." You answered her, continuing to rub your thumbs across her wrist. " I-i don't care what Namor say's, or what he'll do to me? If he ever happens to find out either."

" But I-i'd never put you through th–"

" ..Stop.." Speaking barely above a whisper, Shuri pulled her arms away from you gently, after releasing the hold she had on your top. " You should go." Her next words made you widen your eyes in confusion, as you rose your body up from it's previous position.

And opened up your mouth to object, until she stopped you. " Mamela kum, Y/N."

Translation: Listen to me.

" My Mother is dead, Y/N."

" First it was my Father, when I was younger. And then? It was T'Challa. And when T'Challa first died? I thought that I lost everything. Because you see, T'Challa? Saw me for who I was. And he accepted me for what I truly loved, without ever judging me. Or forcing me into a life that I didn't really want or care for. But now? I've lost my Mother."

Shuri let out a dry laugh, using the back part of her hand to wipe away her tears.

" And I've been forced to be in charge of a nation? That I'm not even sure I can lead. Because who would take orders from the Princess, who's always been far more interested with being inside of her lab and building things? Rather than following the orders my Mother would give to me? So I could be prepared for this day, once it came..."

" ..A-and she died, and left me in charge to take her place."

The sight of Shuri pulling at her hair, as she sobbed uncontrollably? Made the guilt you'd felt earlier, when you first emerged from out of the Wakandan waters, alongside Namor and the other Talokanil soldiers? Return with quickness.

As you sat trying to think of something to say, that would make Shuri feel better, and put a stop to her constant crying. But what do you say to a person, who's lost everything and everyone that they once loved? And how do you get their pain to diminish, so that they could be happy again?

Instead of feeling a surge of different emotions? All at once.

" I should've tried harder to stop him.." You mumbled incoherently, pulling your knees into your chest. " R-riri was right."

" All of this? Is my faul–"

" No." The sound of Shuri's laughter, had caused you to pause in the middle of speaking. As you sat with a puzzled expression present, while wondering what she found so funny about what you had recently said.

" You don't get to feel bad, or expect to receive pity from me? When everything that has happened? Is just as much as your fault? As it is Namor's."

" Y-you take that back." Standing to your feet with quickness, you stomped towards Shuri angrily. With clenched fist, glossy eyes, and a face, that wouldn't mask away how hurt her statement had made you? Even if you were to try your hardest not to react.

And pretend that it didn't bother you, when in reality? The brutal honesty of it all? Had tore what little bit of hope you had, of the two of you overcoming this obstacle that Namor placed in between you? Right into shreds.

" T-take it back, Shuri!" By now the two of you were standing chest to chest, while breathing rather heavily, as you held eye contact with one another. " ..No.." Shuri whispered lowly, catching you completely off guard, when she pressed her forehead against yours.

And brung her hands to the sides of your face, beginning to cradle it. Which made you hold your breath, and begin leaning into her touch hesitantly. With your eyes closed, as your heart rate slowly began returning to normal. Due to the feel of Shuri's cool fingertips, wiping away the tears that continued to spew down your now puffed out cheeks.

And cause your eyes as well as your face, to now be puffy. And slightly sensitive to touch, as you found yourself jerking back your head. With clenched teeth, and furrowed up eyebrows. At the feel of Shuri adding pressure, when the pad of her thumb went brushing underneath your left eye.

" Ma jach ts'u'uyaj tin yéetel, Ya'ab frágil, ts'o'ok a wojel?" Holding onto Shuri's wrist, after returning your head to it's previous position? You then averted your focus back towards her, feeling a small, hearty like laugh fly out of your mouth. At the sight of her looking genuinely confused. And as if she were trying hardly to decipher, what you recently just finished saying.

Translation. Don't be so rough with me, I'm fragile you know?

While she tapped the beads to the bracelet, that was wrapped securely around her left wrist. Causing a light blue light to appear, like it had done when the two of you were in Talokan. Just as a robotic like voice began speaking from it. Which made you widen your eyes in curiosity, and mostly amusement? Seeing that Shuri was currently having an entire conversation, with her bracelet.

And the male voice, that was programmed inside of it.

" Griot?"

" Yes, Princess?" The robotic voice responded to Shuri's voice. Making you twist your lips sideways, and begin fondling with one of the curls that had fallen from out of your bun. As you began thinking to yourself, about how weirdly this interaction that you were witnessing? Had looked.

" Please translate everything Y/N, just said to me ." Holding the bracelet near the front part of her mouth, Shuri's face had contorted into a look of concentration. As she placed the beads near the opening of her ear, trying hardly to understand what the male voice had responded back to her.

Which caused you to laugh once more, while also considering repeating what you'd just said. As a way to help her relax, and get the sharpness of her jaw she'd get whenever she was upset or frustrated? To go away, and return to it's normal state.

" How about you just ask me what I said, yourself? Instead of asking your bracelet?" You broke your current silence, picking with your hands out of being nervous, once Shuri's eyes had shifted back towards you.

" How will I know that you aren't lying, and just making something up to manipulate me?" She questioned suspiciously, giving you her undivided attention. Regardless of the fact she stated that she didn't trust you enough, to where she'd think you'd be honest with her.

" I've never lied to you before, Shuri." You rolled your eyes hardly, folding your arms across your chest. " So I'd appreciate it? If you'd quit assuming that I have."

" And I'd also never lie about something I've said? When using my native tongue either." You added onto your previous statement, fighting hardly not to showcase any of the ongoing frustrations you felt.

But it seemed that no matter how hard you tried, to act unaffected by the things that Shuri would say or do? That you'd fail. And become vulnerable to the point, that you allowed her to realize your new found weakness?

Which was her.

And you didn't know why or how it was her? Nor did you understand why the God's would allow your heart to grow fond of someone, who lived in a completely different world than the one you were used to. Instead of letting you grow close to someone, who was from Talokan. And not an enemy of Namor, which now that you were thinking about him?

You could only imagine how infuriated he'd be with you? Along with Namora, and Attuma? If they were to find out about these new feelings? As well as the infatuation that you were starting to grow and feel, towards Princess Shuri.

" I'm waiting." The sound of Shuri's voice had snapped you back into reality. As you stood before her, feeling yourself begin to grow slightly flustered. With the way her eyes were boring into your dark black ones, with a look you couldn't really explain or understand.

" D-don't be so rough with me, I'm fragile you know? Is what I had said to you." You muttered out lowly, catching yourself stumbling over your words. When Shuri's lips began to curve into what looked like a smirk? Before she smiled widely at you.

Allowing you to be blessed with the sight, of her pearly white teeth. And how breathtaking she looked while engaging in the action. " You are...." Shuri paused, trailing over her words as she approached you for what felt like the billionth time.

With eyes that were full of something you couldn't interpret. And a mouth that was parted open slightly, allowing her breath to make contact with the right side of your face. As she closed the space that was in between the two of you previously? And her warm, soft hands came in contact with the bottom of your chin.

Before she lifted it gently, causing your head to be tilted backwards. As your hands squeezed at the sides of your thighs, for support. And mostly out of being nervous? Meanwhile your breathing had begun to grow out of control. Along with your ability to keep whatever sound that had just escaped your lips? From repeating itself.

When Shuri's face had inched lower, and lower, until finally? Both your foreheads were pressed firmly up against one another's. As she continued eyeing your face, like you were a piece of art. That was very rare, and unable to be seen or touched by her again, had she let you go? And walked away? Like her conscious was screaming at her to do so.

But of course? She ignored it.

And she continued on with her intensifying gaze, that left you feeling so small and exposed. With how she raked her eyes over every inch of your face, to the point that you shut your eyes with quickness. And dropped your head from it's tilted position, when another high pitched noise had left from out your parted lips.

At the feel of Shuri's thumb, brushing against the gills that were on the left side of your chest. Which if you were being honest? Had left you wondering when she had the time to move her hands, from their last position? To touch them.

But you didn't dare complain, as you basked in the new feelings you were being introduced to. While you hoped and prayed up above to the God's, and asked if they'd allow you to be at ease for once in your life? Instead of feeling so clammed up. And as if you weren't meant to be present on earth? With how often others had made you feel as if you were nothing but a failure.

Who'd never be as great and honored, as your dear loving big sister. Who had the world as well as the people of Talokan? In the palm of her hand. Seeing how badly everyone there had admired her, or wished to be as close to Namor as she was?

Which you honest to God? found very stupid, as well as foolish at times. When you saw the lengths that people would go, just to be blessed with Namora or Namor's presence. When you on the other hand? Got to be in their presence for free.

And as exciting as your fellow Talokanil colleagues, believed that meeting the King and his second in command would be? You were quick to burst their bubble of excitement. While informing them that it wasn't all that great? To be in the eyes of royalty all the time. As well as being criticized and critiqued on everything you said or did.

Which of course? Led you to be less liked by the individuals you had spoken to.

Along with you being called a numerous amount of names, that honestly hurt you down to the core. At the mention of you being labeled as an unsupportive sister? As well as you also getting accused of being immensely jealous, of Namora? And her position she held, as Namor's second in command.

But at a time like this? All of the bad thoughts you'd usually feel, when thinking about your sister or Namor? Were nonexistent. As Shuri had somehow, shifted your focus completely. And caused you to feel as if you were floating, and one of the prettiest beings on earth. With how mesmerized she looked? While observing your face. And it's new found blush, that had begun appearing onto the area against your cheeks.

" ..I am?.." You asked quietly, urging her to finish her sentence.

" Beautiful." She admitted without holding back. " Bast..Y/N? You truly are, breathtaking."

The pure honesty of Shuri's words? Had left you a smiling, giggling mess. As you covered your face with your hands, and proceeded to place some distance in between the two of you. Only to be stopped, once more of course? As Shuri tugged your hand, causing you to spin back around and be facing her.

While also being met with the fact, that her previous expression she'd recently had? Was now gone. And nothing but the blank, neutral like look she had earlier, after crying? Had made it's way back against her face. As you stood feeling confused, on what to say or do next?

" S-shuri?" Your voice trembled shakily, once your eyes had caught the sight of another Dora Milaje soldier, who stood outside of the cell. With a greenish, almost brown looking type of shirt? That had a hood attached, in which she wore over her head. As she stood with her eyes boring into yours, before the sound of her knuckles making contact with the cell bars?

Had filled both you and Shuri's ears. " Wenza ntoni ngaphakathi esiseleni nebanjwa?" The sound of her voice, had caused Shuri's body to stiffen up instantly, and make her release the current hold she had on your hands, soon after.

Translation: What are you doing inside the cell with the prisoner?

" O-okoye?" Shuri stuttered out nervously, inching towards the opening of the cell near the other woman. " Ndicela ungandiphoxi." Clasping her hands together, and glancing back at you briefly after making her second statement? Shuri turned her focus back towards the woman, who you learned was named Okoye.

Translation: Please do not embarrass me.

" And why shouldn't I?" The older woman questioned, as you stood in your previous position. Trying hardly to act as if you weren't listening in on their conversation? Despite the fact that you couldn't understand anything that either one of them were saying anyway.

" Five minutes." Shuri pleaded with her. " Five minutes, and I swear to you that when I'm finished? I'll go and talk with the elders, about what's next for Wakanda."

" Hmm." Okoye hummed, shifting her focus back to you. Which made you wave at her shyly and mumble a quiet ' hello'. Before a rush of embarrassment hit you like a freight truck, when she frowned at you? And continued speaking in Wakandan to Shuri.

Well, it was worth a shot. You thought to yourself.

" Kwaye yintoni ebaluleke kakhulu ngale ntombazana yentlanzi? Ngaba ukhe wacela eminye imizuzu emihlanu ukuba ube wedwa naye?" Okoye bombarded Shuri with more questions, as she folded her arms, and began pacing around in front of the cell doors.

Translation: And what is it that's so special about this fish girl? That has you requesting for five more minutes to be alone with her?

" I-i don't know." Shuri answered her, sounding as if she were on the verge of growing upset again. " But I'll figure it out? If you allow me to have five more minutes with her."

Aha! So they are talking about me! A burst of excitement filled your body, when Okoye glanced back over at you, and stared a bit longer than she had done previously. Before she nodded her head at Shuri, and disappeared into the darkness of the hallway, after she left from being in the doorway part of the cell.

" She seems nice." You spoke aloud, as a way to make conversation. Once Shuri had returned back to where she'd been standing earlier, before Okoye had let her intimidating presence be known.

" Don't be fooled? By Okoye's very rare act of gratitude." Shuri chuckled lightly, as she intertwined your hand, with her tattooed one.

" I'm guessing she must hate me, if you're telling me that?" You asked hesitantly, feeling your bottom lip poke out, as you began to pout playfully–as if you were so hurt by that statement? When Shuri's head had nodded, directly after you'd ask the question.

And she let out another laugh, that was way more lengthy and infectious. As you found yourself laughing right along with her, and smiling so hardly? That your jaws had begun growing a bit sore.

" So.." You trailed off, once your laughter had come to a stop. " Why did you ask Okoye for five more minutes alone, so you could talk with me?"

" I've never liked people, who eavesdropped." Shuri's head shook side to side, upon knowing that you had in fact? Been listening in on her and Okoye's conversation. Instead of focusing on other things, like she assumed you would? But then again, there weren't that many interesting things for you to look at inside of the cell.

So the portion of her, that felt annoyed that you'd been eavesdropping? Had let go of the matter quite faster than she'd normally do. Which had shocked her, but nonetheless? Didn't really surprise her as much, being that it was you? Who'd done it.

The fish girl, who's presence and smile? Left her feeling as if she were so perfect, and incapable of having any kind of flaws. With the way you'd look at her, with eyes full of admiration, obeisance, fondness, and if she wasn't mistaken? Pure want.

And that there? Had frightened Shuri, and caused her mind go into a frenzy. Whenever you'd push her to continue having a conversation with you? Or when you'd force the two of you to hold one another's hands, while calling her by her name in such a way, that had never really affected her? Until you'd begun doing it.

Which honestly? Had terrified Shuri, way more than she'd been prior. Knowing that she had only been blessed with the sight of you, and your presence? Only twice now. And during those two encounters? Including right now, since the two of you had only spoken for such a short period of time, during last week. Before her and Riri had been rescued by Nakia?

Caused Shuri to begin feeling things, as well as imagine things? That she knew deep down wasn't appropriate, or normal for her. Being that before you? Shuri had never had any issues with containing herself or shielding away her feelings. Due to the fact, that she'd never been liked, or looked at romantically? In the way that you'd look at her.

Like you were doing currently, with your eyebrows slightly raised. And twisted lips, that were beginning to turn upwards, to match the rest of your confused facial expression. Which made Shuri sigh lowly, as she continued eyeing you intently. All while staring hungrily at your lips, which she was honestly thankful to Bast? That you hadn't noticed.

Because had you realized where she was looking? She felt that she'd probably end up dying from embarrassment, and be sent to the ancestral plane. Where she'd be reunited with her entire family, who she had missed dearly.

" Shuri?" You continued frowning, with your finger tapping against the taller girl's shoulder lightly. " Shuri, are you alrig–"

" You need to leave." She muttered lowly, speaking so quietly that it was almost impossible for you to hear her. " L-leave?" You repeated what she said, feeling your heart begin to sink automatically, once she nodded her head and said yes.

" B-but I thought tha–I thought we wer–" You struggled to form words, as you stepped away from Shuri with glossy eyes. That were close to spilling over, and cause you begin crying again. With the longer you stared up at her.

And awaited for her to give you some sort of explanation, as to why she was asking you to leave. When just moments before right now? The two of you were laughing, and holding onto one another's hands, in a way that you believed deep down in your gut? Had meant so much more, than what Shuri was currently trying to make it out to be.

As she began speaking again, with both her hands clasped together fairly tight.

" .. You can't stay here, Y/N. A-and as much as I would like for you to? You have to go, ingelosi."

Translation: Angel.

" W-why?" Pushing Shuri's hands away from being near you? You felt the warm feel of tears come trickling down the sides of your face. When you blinked your eyes once–following a second time shortly after. Which made the look of despair, that was on Shuri's face? Deepen instantly.

Upon having you shove her away, as if she were nothing and unimportant to you? When the two of you knew, that whatever it was beginning to blossom in between the two of you? Was far from just simply being platonic.

" Y/N–"

" Why!?" You shouted loudly, unexpectedly. Feeling a wave of regret start to rush over you, almost instantly. Seeing how hurt Shuri had looked, once you had shoved her away a second time? And caused her body to stumble backwards, before it collided against the bars of the cell, so hardly?

That a painful yelp had escaped from out of her mouth, shortly after it happened.

" S-shuri, I'm–" A panic state began to rush over you, as you tried stopping the taller woman from exiting out of the cell. But despite your current efforts? She had left you standing alone.

As she kept her back facing towards you, with her head hanging low. To the point that you were able to make out her tears, that had begun dropping against the concrete floor of the hall, and leave a water droplet appearance present.

" ..You are a distraction.." Shuri broke her silence after being quiet for a while. As she spoke with a voice that was full of nothing, except anger and possibly? Hurt.

" And I have no room for distractions, with the duties that I'm responsible for taking care of now. So you must to leave here, and you are to never come bac–"

" Shur–"

" Do not speak over me or interrupt me? When I am in the middle of talking." Shuri warned, lowering her tone way lower than it had been previously. Which caused a tremor of fear to shoot throughout your body, at how easily it was for her demeanor to simply just falter into something else.

" In two hours from now? Okoye's going to come and release you. And once you are free and you return back to Talokan successfully, and Namor questions you about if you used your siren abilities to manipulate me or not? You're going to tell him you have. And that in two day's time? He's expected to meet me out at sea, so that we can talk and discuss my rules."

Nodding your head, you decided to keep quiet. And allow Shuri to finish speaking, so that you wouldn't fuck up and say the wrong? Or cause her to grow more angry, than she already was currently. As she stood outside the cell doors, looking honest to God? Quite beautiful and alluring.

As you found yourself slowly growing captivated, with the way she talked about her plans of destroying Namor, along with everyone who was affiliated with him. Which also meant, that she'd make a mess of you as well? But for some odd and unexpected reason? You couldn't help but wonder what she'd do to you, and how she'd do it? Once that day had came forth.

" I-i'm fragile." You pointed your finger at the gills on your chest. " And innocent."

" B-but if you'd allow me to? Then I could learn how to be less of a distrac–"

" I have nothing for you!" Shuri mocked her words from earlier, banging her fist against the bars of the cell. "Nothing!" She shouted once more, with nothing but rage being evident inside of her dark brown eyes.

" S-so quit trying to confuse me, and make me have these unwanted feelings? As well as these t-thoughts? Because I have nothing to give you! And there's nothing for you here in Wakanda, other than the damages that Namor, and the people of your kind? Have left for us to repair!"

" M-my kind?" You choked on a sob, as Shuri's words, along with the tall man who'd been present with Riri earlier? Had begun repeating inside of your head, nonstop.

" Your kind." Shuri repeated bluntly, without caring to wonder how her stating what she'd said? Would cause you to feel. As you cried uncontrollably, hugging yourself with your arms tightly, as a way to comfort yourself. So that hopefully? Your ongoing sobs would come to a stop.

But how could you pretend to be okay, and ignore your body's need to release it's stress? When the person who'd just called you beautiful and breathtaking, not too long ago? Was the one who was responsible for causing your lungs, to feel as if they'd been punctured.

And left with a hole on the side of them, that made breathing right now? Feel a bit hard for you. As all of the events, and harsh words that had been said to you throughout today? Came piling on top of you, and filling up your mind instantly.

Making the sound of your sobs, grow much louder. As the breaking point you swore you'd already reached earlier, after the dispute you had with Riri? Had returned. And came tearing down every ounce of happiness you thought you felt? Like ocean waves crashing against the shore of the beach.

Breaking you down into pieces, as you sunk to your knees and continued sobbing loudly. Without caring about how Shuri had watched you, with an unreadable expression present across her face, as you did so.

Because this here? Was it.

This? Was your true and final breaking point.

And after everything you had hoped and prayed to the God's up above for, recently? You'd failed and been ignored nevertheless.

Like you always did.

And as Shuri parted open her lips, to speak her final words to you? That would eventually cause the hurt in which you felt, to increase? You nodded your head anyways, after she finished speaking, with your backside now facing towards her.

So that she'd be blocked away from the sight of seeing you be so vulnerable, and upset as you currently were.

" Okoye, will come to release you? In two hours time.."

"...A-and once you are gone? Don't forget that you aren't to come back here.."

" Because there's noth–"

" There's nothing for me here. I heard you loud and clear the first time, Princess." You responded dryly, using the ends of your top? To dry off your now wet face.

" Now are we done here?" Your sudden change of mood, had caused Shuri to grow a bit conflicted, as well as angry. Seeing that you were pushing her away, in the same exact way that she'd done unto you? Due to her incapability of accepting the new found feelings, in which you had caused to ignite like a fire–deep inside the pit of her stomach.

That regardless of her attempts to put them out? They would only grow larger. And cause the want she felt towards you? To continue pulling at the back part of her throat, each time you took her breath away–like you were currently doing now? As you stared at her with nothing except anger present inside your eyes.

Now that all of the hurt you'd felt moments before? Had diminished away completely.

" Do you wish to be finished, isithandwa sam esitsha?" Shuri's hands gripped the bars of the cell, as she awaited your answer. " Speak english." You felt your face ball up, in irritation.

" It isn't fair for you to speak in Wakandan around me? When you don't have any plans to translate your sentences? So that I can fully understand you."

Translation: My newfound lover.

" Do you wish to be finished, isithandwa sam esitsha?" Shuri repeated herself slowly, ignoring your request for her to finish the ending of her sentence, in english. Which did nothing except make the anger you felt? Expand and begin to reignite.

Until suddenly? You found yourself thinking long and hard, about what it was that Shuri might've been asking of you. And as you stood silently, pacing around in a circle. For what felt like forever? You eventually mustered up the courage, to respond to the Princess's question.

" I-i don't understand what you're saying, Shuri." You ran your hands down your face, sighing hardly in frustration.

" And I'm growing a bit tired, of your constant outbursts and mood swings."

" Because their confusing..and I-i don't want to be left feeling confused. And as if I have to walk on eggshells? Whenever I'm around you. Or if I'm feeling overly happy, from something you did? L-like I had been earlier? Before you mentioned that me and my kind? Had left lots of damages, for you and the other Wakandan's to repa–"

" Shuri?" The sound of Okoye's voice, had caused your sentence to be cut short. As you felt your shoulders drop down in defeat, once Shuri had stood upright. And proceeded to follow the older woman, down the dark narrow hallway.

Which made you let out another deep sigh, and begin walking back towards the small cot. As your mind began wandering off, back to the conversation that you and Shuri were having. Before Okoye had come, and interrupted it. Causing you to be left clueless, and stuck trying to figure out what it was that Shuri had said to you, while speaking in Wakandan.

But luckily for you? The God's had casted their light down upon you. As you snapped your head around, facing it towards the entrance of the cell. Seeing that the Princess herself was standing there, in all her glory. While motioning you to come forward, as she held onto an identical version of the beads that were on her wrist? Inside the palm of her left hand.

" Come." She whispered quietly, meeting you halfway where you stood. Before she grabbed onto your wrist gently, and slipped the bracelet around it afterwards. Causing it to tighten on it's own around you, but not too tight to the point where it had caused discomfort.

" Isn't this yours?" You asked softly, with your eyes currently fixated, on the way the bracelet had glowed. A pretty light blue, almost teal-ish looking color. Like the one against Shuri's wrist would do? Whenever she touched it.

" I don't have a lot of time, so we need to keep this conversation brief." Shuri continued whispering, with her head glancing back behind her, every once and a while as she did so.

" Tomorrow? I will send you a signal. And once you receive it? I want you to return back here, at the exact time that I give to you."

" C-come back?" You found yourself frowning in confusion. " Why should I come back here? After you've made it very clear, that there is nothing in Wakanda for me? And that you have nothing to give or say to me, for that matter as well?"

" Mamela kum, Y/N." Shuri raised her hands, placing them atop your shoulders hesitantly.

Translation: Listen to me.

" Just list–"

"..What about me being a distraction, Shuri?" You interrupted her sentence, beginning to go on another rant. About how unfair it was for her to ask you to return back here, when just earlier? She had made it chrystal clear, that she wanted you to leave? And to never come back.

" If I'm as much as a distraction as you say I am? Then why ask me to come back? While giving me these?" You held up your wrist that had the bracelet on it.

" When you know that if I'm caught wearing this by, Namor? Or even worse, Namora? T-that I'll..that they'll.." Swallowing hardly, you averted your gaze up at Shuri. Feeling your heart rate begin to accelerate, when her hands had came in contact with the surface of your skin again.

" I can not make you return here? If you wish to stay away." The feel of Shuri's breath, lingering against the tip of your earlobe. Caused your mouth to part open slightly, as goosebumps began making their way across the sides of your arms.

" But if you are open to it?" Shuri's hands trailed down your arms slowly. " And if you can find it in your heart, to trust me?" She intertwined both your hands together, rubbing her thumb across the top of your knuckles.

" Then when tomorrow comes? I'll be expecting your arrival.."

" ..At the appointed time, that I have set in mind? To send you the signal. That will alert you to come up to the surface. Because there's so much I'd like to show you, and learn more about you, ingelosi.."

Translation: Angel.

" T-there's nothing for you to get to know about me? That's worth wanting to know." You stammered over your words, growing a bit self conscious. With being trapped under the intensifying gaze, of Shuri's compelling stare.

" A-and how will I know, that this isn't just some kind of sick trick? For you to dispose of me? In the way that you wish to dispose of Namor?" You asked frantically, searching Shuri's eyes for some kind of answer.

As she stood silently, continuing to rub the pad of her thumb across the top of your knuckles. With a tiny smirk being curved near the corner of her lips. " ..I don't know.." She answered you, after what felt like forever.

" But perhaps? This is a trick? And maybe I do want to dispose of you? In the same exact way that I wish to dispose of Namor."

" Or maybe?" Shuri raised her eyebrows, shifting her focus from your face, down to the center of your chest. "..Maybe being in your presence? Has left me feeling enticed.."

" ..And wondering what it is, that's so special about you? That causes me to think about the things I do? Whenever you are near me.."

Hovering her fingers over the top of your chest, where your gills were? Shuri then inched her hand lower, letting out a light chuckle, following a quiet–satisfied hum. At the sight of you closing your eyes, and pushing yourself more into her embrace. Once her fingertips had made contact, with the surface of your gills.

" You think that I'm special?" Your eyes shot open instantly, upon hearing that specific phrase leave Shuri's lips. "Oh, umthandi?" Another sultry like chuckle had escaped from out Shuri's mouth.

Translation: Lover.

Before she removed her hands away from you, and began walking near the entrance of the cell doors. " ..I think about many things, during my free time? And whenever I'm busy with building new technology projects."

" And as much as I'd love to inform you, about all of those specific things?" Her head whipped back around to face you, as you were met with the sight of her smiling again. And so hardly in a way? That it showed off the dimple, that was located on the far right side of her face.

" There's a meeting that I'm required to attend in a moment, with the Elders. But perhaps tomorrow, if you decide to take me up on my offer? And you listen out for my signal?"

" Then you'll tell me all about it?" You questioned, with eyes full of curiosity and wonder.

Which made Shuri nod her head, and deepen her smile. As she stepped outside of the cell, before closing it. While placing her hands around the bars, with a slightly tight grip.

" Ndingakuxelela nantoni na intliziyo yakho enqwenela ukuyazi." She said sweetly, proceeding to speak in Wakandan. Regardless of the fact, that she knew you couldn't understand her.

Translation: I'd tell you anything your heart desires to know.

" Shuri." You folded your arms, pouting playfully. When the sound of her laughter had filled your ears. " Yes." She answered, after her laughter had come to a stop.

" Yes, I'll tell you of all the things that I think about? If you are present here tomorrow."

" And please do not forget to inform, Namor? Of the things I mentioned to you earlier, ingelosi."

Translation: Angel.

" I won't." You shook your head side to side. " A-and will Okoye, still be coming to release me later on?"

Nodding upon hearing your question? Shuri had parted open her lips to speak, until the sound of her name being called, by an unfamiliar voice? Caused her to pause. And begin stepping away from your cell with quickness.

" I have to go." She whispered, rushing back near the cell bars. " But once you return back home to Talokan, successfully? Press the bead that's located in the middle of the bracelet."

" And I will be alerted from up here? That you have made it hom–"

" SHURI!?" Another deep, and unfamiliar voice? Had shouted out Shuri's name, from the ending of the hallway. Which made you shift your focus towards the side, as you caught a glimpse of what looked like the light from a torch? Begin to light up the dark hall.

And allow you to make out more of the foreign writing, that was very similar to the writing written across the walls, inside of your cell. " You should go." You told Shuri, flashing her a warm smile. When the light from the torch, that lit up the hall? Grew closer.

" And perhaps, if I make it out of my talk? With Namor and Namora alive? After returning back to Talokan, whenever Okoye comes to release me? T-then maybe?" You picked with your mask nervously, struggling to maintain eye contact with Shuri.

" Maybe I'll be able to sneak up to the surface? So that the two of us can see one another? Once tomorrow comes."

" Okay." Another smile made it's way onto Shuri's face, as her eyes lit up with excitement. Upon hearing you say that you'd see her tomorrow. "And you promise you'll show?" She questioned, pausing in her footsteps. When she proceeded to begin walking back down the hall.

" I promise." You stared into her eyes, as a way to show her you were being honest.

" I promise, I'll show up Shuri."

" And I promise that I'll leave Talokan, as soon as possible. So that I can make it here on time? Directly after I receive your signal."

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